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CNN Live Today

Interview With Will Farrell

Aired October 20, 2003 - 11:51   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your costume is pretty.

WILL FARRELL, ACTOR: It's not a costume. I'm an elf.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh.

FARRELL: Well technically I'm a human but I was raised by elves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Just a little tidbit as seen from the Christmas comedy. It's called "Elf." It Stars "SNL" veteran Will Farrell. And Farrell's character was raised by elves at the North Pole but latter heads to New York to find his real family and the true meaning of Christmas.

And Will Farrell is joining us here to talk about the movie. It opens November 7. Will, good morning.

FARRELL: Good morning to you.

KAGAN: You very large elf you.

FARRELL: Yes, 6'3" elf.

KAGAN: Well I got to say. Something went terribly wrong in your life, Will Farrell.

FARRELL: Really? Why?

KAGAN: This is not what you were supposed to grow up to be famous comedian and movie star and successful actor. That wasn't the plan, was it?

FARRELL: No, I was just planning on being a bank teller. Living a quiet existence, my dream of counting money. No. I was going to actually do what you're doing.

KAGAN: Really? I'm so glad you saw the light and got a responsible job like dressing in elf clothes.

FARRELL: I was going to be -- but I was going to do sports. I was going to be sportscaster. Yes.

I didn't really care about reporting or showing up on time or writing a story, any of those things like that.

KAGAN: Kind of a problem.

FARRELL: Luckily, I found this.

KAGAN: Let's talk about this latest movie "Elf."

FARRELL: Right.

KAGAN: You're a human.

FARRELL: Raised at the north pole by the elves.

KAGAN: How did that come to happen?

FARRELL: Well, let's see. It was kind of a project that had been in the works for awhile. It was -- we thought of it, the premise really intrigued us. It just took a while to get all the elements in place. Got John Favreau to direct.

KAGAN: Of "Swingers."

FARRELL: And "Made" fame. Kind of a great cast with James Caan and Bob Newhart who plays my papa elf. And Ed Asner as Santa Claus.

KAGAN: I think we have another clip. Let's look at this other clip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He needs to be nurtured. Bring him home. Introduce him to Emily, Michael.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How long do you think you will be with us?

FARRELL: I'm expecting like, forever.

(BELCH)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He cannot stay here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We can't just throw him out in the snow.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He loves the snow. He's told me 15 times.

FARRELL: Ow. Son of a nut cracker.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Is that real burping or is that stunt burping?

FARRELL: I wish it was real burring.

KAGAN: That's enhanced? Oh, wow.

FARRELL: I have never been able to burp on cue. KAGAN: Really? This is a problem.

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: I'll take your word for it. I have a theory about the parts that you take. I think you're looking to show leg.

FARRELL: Well...

KAGAN: We have "Parade" magazine. that was this week. Janet Reno.

FARRELL: Liked to show a little leg there.

KAGAN: "Elf," got to be showing a little leg. And "Old School" well forget just leg.

FARRELL: I showed whole upper and lower torso.

KAGAN: What do you think about that theory?

FARRELL: You know what? When you have a body like this, you have to show it off to the people.

KAGAN: You must share.

FARRELL: It is. I'm kind of -- I have been told I have kind of like a Greek god, an Adonis of sorts. A walking, living sculpture. I'm kind of just giving back.

KAGAN: And thank you. On behalf of America and the world, we say thank you.

Looking ahead, you're also going to be doing a movie, "Anchorman." You're going to really look at this wacky business I'm in?

FARRELL: We are looking at local TV news. I play a legendary local legend Ron Burgundy. I'm Ron Burgundy.

KAGAN: You've got the look down.

FARRELL: Yes, I do.

(CROSSTALK)

FARRELL: I'm Ron Burgundy.

KAGAN: Give me that look. Very good. You're hired. I'm looking for partner since Leon left.

KAGAN: When are the auditions?

FARRELL: Right now.

FARRELL: Do we have any copy I could read? KAGAN: We'll get some.

FARRELL: You're too afraid.

KAGAN: Opportunity lost. Hey, if the movie works out, we'll look forward to that.

FARRELL: Excellent.

KAGAN: Will Farrell, thanks so much. Good to have you with us.

FARRELL: Good to be here.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired October 20, 2003 - 11:51   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your costume is pretty.

WILL FARRELL, ACTOR: It's not a costume. I'm an elf.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh.

FARRELL: Well technically I'm a human but I was raised by elves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Just a little tidbit as seen from the Christmas comedy. It's called "Elf." It Stars "SNL" veteran Will Farrell. And Farrell's character was raised by elves at the North Pole but latter heads to New York to find his real family and the true meaning of Christmas.

And Will Farrell is joining us here to talk about the movie. It opens November 7. Will, good morning.

FARRELL: Good morning to you.

KAGAN: You very large elf you.

FARRELL: Yes, 6'3" elf.

KAGAN: Well I got to say. Something went terribly wrong in your life, Will Farrell.

FARRELL: Really? Why?

KAGAN: This is not what you were supposed to grow up to be famous comedian and movie star and successful actor. That wasn't the plan, was it?

FARRELL: No, I was just planning on being a bank teller. Living a quiet existence, my dream of counting money. No. I was going to actually do what you're doing.

KAGAN: Really? I'm so glad you saw the light and got a responsible job like dressing in elf clothes.

FARRELL: I was going to be -- but I was going to do sports. I was going to be sportscaster. Yes.

I didn't really care about reporting or showing up on time or writing a story, any of those things like that.

KAGAN: Kind of a problem.

FARRELL: Luckily, I found this.

KAGAN: Let's talk about this latest movie "Elf."

FARRELL: Right.

KAGAN: You're a human.

FARRELL: Raised at the north pole by the elves.

KAGAN: How did that come to happen?

FARRELL: Well, let's see. It was kind of a project that had been in the works for awhile. It was -- we thought of it, the premise really intrigued us. It just took a while to get all the elements in place. Got John Favreau to direct.

KAGAN: Of "Swingers."

FARRELL: And "Made" fame. Kind of a great cast with James Caan and Bob Newhart who plays my papa elf. And Ed Asner as Santa Claus.

KAGAN: I think we have another clip. Let's look at this other clip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He needs to be nurtured. Bring him home. Introduce him to Emily, Michael.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How long do you think you will be with us?

FARRELL: I'm expecting like, forever.

(BELCH)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He cannot stay here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We can't just throw him out in the snow.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He loves the snow. He's told me 15 times.

FARRELL: Ow. Son of a nut cracker.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Is that real burping or is that stunt burping?

FARRELL: I wish it was real burring.

KAGAN: That's enhanced? Oh, wow.

FARRELL: I have never been able to burp on cue. KAGAN: Really? This is a problem.

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: I'll take your word for it. I have a theory about the parts that you take. I think you're looking to show leg.

FARRELL: Well...

KAGAN: We have "Parade" magazine. that was this week. Janet Reno.

FARRELL: Liked to show a little leg there.

KAGAN: "Elf," got to be showing a little leg. And "Old School" well forget just leg.

FARRELL: I showed whole upper and lower torso.

KAGAN: What do you think about that theory?

FARRELL: You know what? When you have a body like this, you have to show it off to the people.

KAGAN: You must share.

FARRELL: It is. I'm kind of -- I have been told I have kind of like a Greek god, an Adonis of sorts. A walking, living sculpture. I'm kind of just giving back.

KAGAN: And thank you. On behalf of America and the world, we say thank you.

Looking ahead, you're also going to be doing a movie, "Anchorman." You're going to really look at this wacky business I'm in?

FARRELL: We are looking at local TV news. I play a legendary local legend Ron Burgundy. I'm Ron Burgundy.

KAGAN: You've got the look down.

FARRELL: Yes, I do.

(CROSSTALK)

FARRELL: I'm Ron Burgundy.

KAGAN: Give me that look. Very good. You're hired. I'm looking for partner since Leon left.

KAGAN: When are the auditions?

FARRELL: Right now.

FARRELL: Do we have any copy I could read? KAGAN: We'll get some.

FARRELL: You're too afraid.

KAGAN: Opportunity lost. Hey, if the movie works out, we'll look forward to that.

FARRELL: Excellent.

KAGAN: Will Farrell, thanks so much. Good to have you with us.

FARRELL: Good to be here.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com