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CNN Larry King Live
Larry King Interviews Actor Will Ferrell
Aired August 12, 2006 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Carol Lin and here's what's happening right now in the news. After 32 days of destruction and bloodshed, there is a planned cease-fire in the Middle East.
U.N. chief Kofi Annan says fighting between Israel and Hezbollah will stop early Monday morning, at least on paper. The cease-fire was the centerpiece of a U.N. resolution approved Friday.
And British police raided Internet cafes in several cities today. They are on the email trail of suspects in the alleged trans-Atlantic terror plot.
Meanwhile NBC News is reporting that there was some kind of dispute between U.S. and British authorities over the timing of Thursday's arrest. The British reportedly wanted to hold off to collect more evidence.
New threats from Hezbollah, even as word of the cease-fire comes down. After downing an Israeli helicopter today, what are the chances they will really put down their arms? Coming up at 10:00 Eastern I'm going to talk with an Israeli military spokesperson. But for now we're going to bring you back to CNN PRESENTS.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILL FERRELL, "RICKY BOBBY": Hey, I'm Ricky Bobby.
JOHN C. REILLY, "CAL NAUGHTON, JR.": And I'm Cal Naughton, Jr.
FERRELL: We just want to take a moment to talk to you about snow blindness and cats.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight, NASCAR phenomenon Ricky Bobby. He was on the fast track to super stardom with all the trappings, a blond beauty by his side, two wonderful little boys and fans by the millions. But a single accident sent his life spinning out of control.
FERRELL: Yes, I'm flying through the air. This is not good.
KING: Into a pit stop with destiny.
FERRELL: I am so paralyzed.
KING: Now, NASCAR legend Richard Petty, NASCAR stars Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and the subject himself of the new film Talladega Nights Ricky Bobby and his best friend for life Cal Naughton, Jr. They're all next on LARRY KING LIVE.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Our guests here in Los Angeles, Ricky Bobby, the NASCAR legend, one of the all-time greats, four time winner of the Daytona 500 and Cal Naughton, Jr., also a NASCAR driver just you are.
FERRELL: Before we go any further...
KING: OK.
FERRELL: ...Mr. King we'd just like to say it is an honor to e on your show and Cal and I have watched you, I mean we've watched your show all our lives.
REILLY: You have guided us through the toughs of times of our generation.
FERRELL: Yes. REILLY: You and your entire family, B.B. King, you know, Martin Luther King, I mean how can you measure it, the sound that the medieval knights make when they sword fight, King, King, all that.
FERRELL: Your little brother Stephen King.
REILLY: He scares the hell out of me.
FERRELL: He does. I mean so we thank you. We thank you for...
KING: Well, I'm honored.
FERRELL: ...for leading us through a lot. You've covered so many things, you know, crowning of presidents, you know, the O.J. chase, the Menendez trial.
REILLY: The first anniversary of the Menendez trial.
FERRELL: Yes and the second anniversary of the Menendez trial.
REILLY: The third anniversary of the Menendez trial.
FERRELL: And so on, so on, so anyway we thank you for that and to show our appreciation we brought you some gifts, a gallon of gasoline right there.
KING: Oh.
REILLY: And one glazed ham.
FERRELL: And one glazed ham.
REILLY: You enjoy that.
FERRELL: We figure, you know, gasoline is so expensive and everyone loves a ham.
KING: You're not kidding. Boy, I'm honored. I thank you very much.
FERRELL: Yes.
KING: Cal, you and Ricky seem to have made a few enemies in the years on the track. Does that bother you?
REILLY: Well it's like Ricky always says. If you ain't first, you're last, you know and if you ain't a winner, you're a loser and all the losers out there they don't like us because Ricky's turned them into losers so many times, Larry.
KING: There seemed to be a backlash against you recently, Ricky, with that new movie and everything. You got a big movie coming.
FERRELL: Right.
KING: Everything a lot of drivers are not very happy with the way you also openly challenge them. In fact, on the red carpet at the premiere last week, we talked to a couple of drivers who took your challenge pretty seriously. Let's take a look at what they had to say about your challenge to them. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I've been hearing all this talk. I ain't really sure where he's coming off. He ain't saying that to my face, so, you know, anytime he wants to bring it he can bring it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Give me your thoughts on Ricky Bobby's apparent mental breakdown, the scene where he's, you know, running around in his underwear. I know you know the scene.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody saw that coming. The guy is a fruitcake sometimes, you know, so he's crazy. I don't know.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think he has a shot at being Calvin Klein's next underwear model?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no. Did he say that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's the rumor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's the rumor? Is that open like maybe I got a shot at that?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: OK, what do you say about those comments Rick?
FERRELL: Well, I mean we just have two words to say, Larry, and that's shake...
REILLY: And bake. FERRELL: Shake and bake.
REILLY: Larry, shake and bake.
FERRELL: Shake and bake.
REILLY: What else can we say?
FERRELL: You know I'd also like to point out, Larry, you know, that those guys don't have the guts to come on your show and talk to you one-on-one. I mean look at me and Cal here. We're sitting right in front of you and I think that -- that says a lot about us and a lot about them.
REILLY: They're big old wooses (ph), Larry. I mean I think maybe they're a little crabby cause momma didn't change their diapers that night or something. I don't know what's going on.
FERRELL: (INAUDIBLE). KING: Hold it. I've got word from the control room that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is on the phone with us right now. Dale, are you there?
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Yes, I'm here, Larry. You hear me?
KING: I hear you fine.
EARNHARDT: I got a big old party going on downstairs, didn't know if you could hear me. Let me just say to Ricky and Cal you guys are lucky I'm not in the studio calling me a loser. You guys are the losers. I know 2-year-olds that drive better than you guys.
KING: Whoa!
FERRELL: OK, you know what is that right, Dale? Hey, Dale...
EARNHARDT: Yo.
FERRELL: ...I think the only number you may be, number eight, but I'm number one OK?
REILLY: Yes, dude, yes. Ricky is number one.
EARNHARDT: Oh, is that right? You want to talk about numbers? What number are you? What number are you Cal? In my book you're just a big zero. Heck the only time you ever won was when everybody else in the race was disqualified.
FERRELL: Hey, don't you talk to my, you know, friend that way, OK, you rookie. Why don't you just get back behind your Big Wheel and drive away.
REILLY: Yes, or a tricycle.
FERRELL: Yes.
REILLY: Yes, a tricycle because tricycles are for little babies who aren't grownups. And I am number two by the way.
KING: Hold it guys. Wait, let's take a breather and just agree to disagree, OK? Dale, I appreciate you popping by. I just think it's best to call it a draw and let the three of you hash it out in the next big race.
EARNHARDT: Oh, I'll hash it out all right. I'll make hash out of Ricky Bobby's track record that's what I'll do.
KING: OK, Dale, you'll have your chance...
REILLY: I'll make hash browns out of your face.
KING: ...to do that next time at Talladega. Thanks for calling Dale.
EARNHARDT: My pleasure, Larry, just next time have some real drivers on the show.
FERRELL: Man.
KING: Let's discuss politics, guys. Ricky, in the past you've seen Richard Petty run for Congress. You're extremely popular. You ever thought of getting involved in politics?
FERRELL: I have, Larry. I have indeed. I have a lot of ideas. The first thing I think I'd like to do is get rid of speed limits and...
KING: All speed limits.
FERRELL: All speed limits. I don't -- I think they're useless and they just slow people down and when you have to -- when you have to transport goods or get somewhere in a hurry...
REILLY: Yes, you're in a hurry, exactly.
FERRELL: ... you got to go.
REILLY: You don't need a government telling you how fast you need to get to your meeting.
FERRELL: And you can also put numbers on cars like they do...
KING: Put numbers on them.
FERRELL: Yes. And also like have flagmen at every intersection. That's just how I'd start.
KING: What about Iraq?
FERRELL: Well, I wish Ford would bring back the IROC. That was a good car. I love the IROC.
REILLY: I rock and roll.
FERRELL: Yes.
REILLY: I had one.
KING: No, no, not the IROC, the war in Iraq.
FERRELL: Oh.
REILLY: We already won that war, Larry, didn't you hear?
FERRELL: Yes.
REILLY: Mission accomplished, man.
FERRELL: Yes.
KING: Well there's still troops there you know.
REILLY: Well, that is a typical newsman smokescreen, Larry. I mean not to call you out but show me the proof, you know.
FERRELL: Yes, please do.
REILLY: I didn't think so. I think we should have done the Oprah show instead of this one (INAUDIBLE).
FERRELL: We can still leave if we want.
KING: I got to get a break fellows and as we go to commercial a prayer of thanks around the dinner table at the Ricky Bobby house. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: (INAUDIBLE) and for Jesus.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, you know, sweetie, Jesus did grow up. You don't always have to call him baby. It's a bit odd and all putting a prayer to a baby.
FERRELL: Look, I like the Christmas Jesus best and I'm saying grace. When you say grace you can say it to grownup Jesus or teenage Jesus or bearded Jesus or whoever you want.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know what I want, I want you to do this grace good so that God will let us win tomorrow.
FERRELL: Dear eight pound, six ounce, newborn infant Jesus, don't even know a word yet, we just thank you for all the races I've won and $21.2 million, whoo (ph)!
REILLY: Whoo!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whoo!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't drive with your eyes. You got to feel the road.
FERRELL: I'm embarrassed. I really thought I could feel it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Welcome back. Ricky Bobby and Cal Norton, Jr. are my guests. You can see them this weekend playing themselves in Talladega Nights. Ricky and Cal, we just got a call from a TV studio. It's Richard Petty, can you hear us?
RICHARD PETTY: Yes, I hear you loud and clear guys.
REILLY: Unbelievable. KING: I've got Ricky Bobby and his driving teammate Cal Naughton here on set Richard. What was it you wanted to say to them?
PETTY: Well, really, you know, I heard they've been having a little bit of trouble trying to negotiate some of the things that they've run into and so I thought I'd call and invite them to come down to the Richard Petty driving experience and getting a little bit of experience sort of, you know, good and bad.
REILLY: I don't know, Mr. Petty, how can you improve on perfection? I mean what is it that you think you can teach a couple pros like us? I mean all due respect you are the king. You are the king.
PETTY: Well, you know, we'd sort of show you around, show you some of the grooves in the racetrack and some of the ways of treating people and how to take care of the car and, you know, just some -- just some regular stuff that maybe you don't really know.
KING: You should be honored.
FERRELL: I mean we are honored. We are. I mean he is the king. He's related to you, Larry King. You guys are part of the King family.
REILLY: Look at that resemblance man. You ought to think about a moustache, Larry.
FERRELL: You know, I mean it's just -- it's just a thrill.
KING: But you seem a little annoyed.
PETTY: Well, you know, I just thought I'd call up and tell you guys that, you know, after you win a couple of hundred races and, you know, instead of four deals at Daytona you got to win seven, so you know we'll -- we'll kind of talk to you in a little bit different vein and maybe you'll be accepted a little bit different, a little bit better maybe. And, you know, I just thought I'd call up and, you know, offer a few suggestions for you, OK?
KING: Richard, if you change their minds and decide to give the Richard Petty driving experience a shot, how do they get in touch with you?
PETTY: Well, just tell them to ring up 1-800-BE-PETTY or 1800bepetty.com and we'll straighten them right out.
KING: Thank you, Richard.
PETTY: Thank you guys.
FERRELL: Thanks Richard.
REILLY: Thank you sir. See you on the track.
PETTY: Right. KING: Well now that's an honor man but you won't take him up. You don't go for the driving experience? I mean you're a pro already right you don't need it?
FERRELL: I got nervous there. I never get nervous.
KING: You did?
REILLY: I know.
FERRELL: Yes, man.
KING: Oh, that's the...
FERRELL: That's the man right here.
KING: That's Johnny Cash.
FERRELL: I mean I've got -- I once tried to get his autograph.
KING: Really?
FERRELL: Yes. I wet my pants, yes, yes.
REILLY: One time I took, remember that little action figures, Big Jim?
FERRELL: Yes.
REILLY: I turned my Big Jim into Richard Petty when I was a kid.
FERRELL: Yes.
REILLY: Put a moustache on him.
FERRELL: I tried to legally change my name to Richard Petty but I figured it was a dumb move and Cal talked me out of it.
KING: Now, Ricky, you've won over 63 career races, an impressive total, but Cal you barely even won one race. In fact, you hold the career record for second place finishes, 74 second place finishes.
REILLY: Yes. Yes.
KING: Now does that put a strain on your friendship?
REILLY: Not at all. Cal's fine with it. You know some eagles are born to, you know, born to soar and others are born to finish second, you know, behind those eagles while they soar, right buddy?
REILLY: It's fine, Larry. You know it's all just part of racing. I've learned to be happy with it a long time ago. I don't have any pent up anger about it at all.
FERRELL: Hey man, hey man, lower your voice. Lower your voice.
REILLY: Oh.
FERRELL: Yes.
REILLY: All right, sorry. What I was trying to say is Ricky is my best friend and I'm happy. I'm very happy.
FERRELL: See.
KING: You don't seem happy.
REILLY: Look, King, don't let me go southern on your butt. You use your dirty little media tricks to try and break up my friendship with Ricky. Look, I don't want to win, OK? It's a drag winning.
FERRELL: Yes, it's a burden.
REILLY: Who wants to hold that heavy trophy anyway. You throw your back out.
FERRELL: Yes.
REILLY: I'm happy. That's it.
FERRELL: This is a happy man.
REILLY: You brought me out Larry.
FERRELL: This is a strained voice of a very happy man, yes.
KING: This is obviously a very touchy subject so why don't we move on?
REILLY: Yes, why don't we? I told you we should have gone on to Disney. Didn't I say that?
FERRELL: I told you don't use the Mickey Mouse. We're on CNN, OK? Save that for our interview on -- on Snow White's new talk show.
KING: You two used that nickname shake and bake on the racetrack. FERRELL: Yes, shake and bake.
KING: Where did that come from?
FERRELL: Larry, I'm sure you have your share of nicknames. I mean Cal and I we like to call you the rattler.
KING: The rattler.
FERRELL: The rattler whenever we watch you because you -- you never know when you're going to strike...
REILLY: Yes.
FERRELL: ...with a piercing question. Yes, exactly. REILLY: Sometimes I call you the mandrel, you know, them kind of -- the primitive, what are they little monkeys like.
FERRELL: Yes.
REILLY: And they got crazy hair because your hair kind of flares back.
FERRELL: Larry, flared back.
REILLY: It's like sort of intimidating like I imagine a mandrel would be.
FERRELL: Yes. And it's like, you know, it's like that with us on a racetrack and, you know, Cal comes in, in his car, and he shakes things up.
REILLY: Yes. See I'll bump the other cars and loosen them up because I got no fear, you know. The doctor said because when I was born they grabbed on my head too tight but whatever is the reason I do whatever this man tells me on the track.
FERRELL: And then and once we're good and ready I come blasting in. I throw the competition in the oven and I bake them.
REILLY: A little shake and bake.
FERRELL: Yes.
REILLY: We tried other nicknames but they weren't that good. I mean we went by Chewbacca and Cool Breeze but then Lucas Films was going to sue us. I'm still mad at that guy about that.
FERRELL: Yes. And then we also tried the Talladega Twins but that was just a little weird.
REILLY: Yes.
FERRELL: And...
KING: Let's talk about your wife Carly for a minute. The movie shows how you two met. Let's say it was romantic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey driver, drive these.
FERRELL: Please be 18.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: I wanted to stop to pick her up.
KING: Carlie is definitely as we might say a hottie is that the term you might use?
FERRELL: Sure.
KING: She's a hottie.
REILLY: Yes.
FERRELL: She's white hot, yes.
KING: A little later on we'll talk about how the two of you endured a horrible break up.
FERRELL: I mean her ass is so hot, I've seen it cause traffic accidents.
REILLY: Yes. Yes. Actually, she's required by police to carry orange cones with her when she stands in one place near any roadway.
FERRELL: That's how hot. I mean, you know, here's the thing.
KING: She was born to be a NASCAR wife do you think?
FERRELL: I think so, yes. I mean, you know, she had to do -- she had to do a few laps around the track before she found the right driver and that driver was me, you know.
KING: Well put.
FERRELL: Thank you. I'm a pretty articulate guy, you know.
KING: But in the movie we find out that at one point she kicked you out of the house because you were disqualified from a race and Cal, you actually asked her to marry you.
REILLY: Now, Larry.
KING: I saw it.
FERRELL: Yes.
REILLY: Look, that's what friends do. They take over when times get tough and she was only doing what she had to do to provide for her and her two boys and Ricky had a very unfortunate mechanical and emotional breakdown in the middle of a race. I really did it for my best friend.
FERRELL: He came to my rescue.
KING: I must say...
REILLY: I saw a family in crisis and I came in to help.
FERRELL: Bobby because I could count on him.
KING: I think in the history of NASCAR it was the strangest breakdown of all. Watch.
FERRELL: We don't have to show this. (END VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: I'm on fire.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're not on fire, Ricky Bobby.
FERRELL: Help me, Jesus! Help me Jewish guy. Help me Tom Cruise. Tom Cruise here's your witchcraft again (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
REILLY: Larry, I'm just going to break in here.
FERRELL: You're a real son of a bitch, Larry.
REILLY: Let me answer this.
FERRELL: Son of a bitch.
REILLY: I'm just going to answer this for Ricky myself.
KING: Had to show it come on. Go ahead, Cal.
REILLY: A lot of people don't know the technical specifications of a lot of the things on a track and I'll tell you this. Racing fuel burns clear so just because we couldn't see the fire doesn't mean it wasn't there.
FERRELL: Turns out it wasn't but at that moment...
KING: Perception is reality.
FERRELL: Thank you, yes, thank you.
KING: If you believe that it was true. You prayed though to Tom Cruise's God.
FERRELL: Yes, I did. I did, Larry, and I'm not ashamed of that because Tom's God is out there somewhere in a spaceship and anyone who flies a spaceship into, you know, high speed transportation, I mean as soon as -- as I said that prayer the invisible fire went away.
KING: Yes. Well then there's the paralysis, Ricky.
FERRELL: Yes, why is that so funny?
KING: It was funny. You thought you were...
REILLY: It wasn't that funny for a minute there.
FERRELL: Yes, no.
KING: You thought you were paralyzed from the waist down. I'll tell you what. I know all this is hard on you, so let's take a break. And we'll go to commercial and we'll see what happens when Ricky's pit crew chief broke the good but also bad news to him. Watch. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The doctor told us that we should let you work it out on your own sweet time but, Ricky, you can walk.
FERRELL: What did you just say?
REILLY: He's telling you the truth, man. It's all in your head.
FERRELL: You sick -- I mean you walk in that door on your two legs all fat and cocky and looking at me in my chair and you tell me it's all in my head. I hope that both of you have sons and they have their legs taken away. I mean I pray you know that pain and that hurt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't you put that evil on me Ricky Bobby! Don't you put that on us! You are not paralyzed!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: I am so paralyzed!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, no!
REILLY: Rough on him now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, he needs to know!
REILLY: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's always crying.
REILLY: Tough love it is. Tough love, wake up idiot.
FERRELL: Do you want to see what my life is?
REILLY: Don't you stick that knife in your leg.
FERRELL: Oh (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP) KING: Now that had to hurt Ricky.
FERRELL: Yes, I mean it did. It's hard to describe the feeling, you know. I mean it felt like a sharp steel object cutting into your leg all the way -- all the way into the thigh bone.
KING: That's what it was.
FERRELL: Yes, well that's what it felt like. KING: Hold on guys. We have somebody else who wants to talk to you. Now you guys have really done it. It's Michael Waltrip in Charlotte, North Carolina, NASCAR's number 55, winner of the Daytona 500 in 2001 and 2003. By the way, where did you guys finish in those years?
FERRELL: Larry, I really prefer not to talk about those years any more than I absolutely have to. Let's just say I had a little bump in the road.
KING: Michael, I know you want to talk to Ricky and Cal but I need to ask you to please keep it civil.
MICHAEL WALTRIP: No, that's cool, Larry. I just -- I want to first talk to you. Your show is something I've looked up to over the years. I mean just last week I was watching it and you had that sweet lady that got fired off The View on there.
KING: Star Jones.
WALTRIP: And now this week you got these two bozos. Where are you headed with this deal?
REILLY: Did he just say bozo?
FERRELL: I think he said bozo.
KING: He called you bozos.
FERRELL: But Michael...
KING: Ricky -- Ricky Bobby and Cal Naughton are two of the most popular drivers on the circuit.
WALTRIP: Wait until you see the movie. The movie defines who they are. They're very arrogant. They're cocky. They've alienated and offended everyone they've ever run across.
FERRELL: OK, you wait one minute Michael Waltrip, OK, younger and less successful brother of Darrell Waltrip, OK. Don't you be bringing up the worst moments of my life, OK. Don't make me embarrass you right here by reading a list of the 24 drivers who kicked your butt last season, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, you had enough yet?
REILLY: Brian Dooley (ph), Brian Vickers, Jeff Gordon, we can go all night.
WALTRIP: Larry, you're being unfair.
FERRELL: Shake and bake.
REILLY: Yes.
FERRELL: Shake and bake.
REILLY: Shake and bake Waltrip.
WALTRIP: You're smoking hot wife gets on my nerves.
KING: I know it's painful to talk about this for both of you but, Ricky, your fans really want to know what happened with the marriage and we'll ask about that. Michael, thanks for joining us, see you at the track.
WALTRIP: I want to know too, Larry.
REILLY: See you in hell Waltrip.
KING: Tell me what happened with the marriage Rick.
FERRELL: Well, Larry, it happened after my unfortunate breakdown after I lost the first race.
KING: Ever that you lost.
FERRELL: Yes. And then another one and then I had that bout with a psycho kinetic paralysis.
KING: So she left you?
FERRELL: Yes, my wife -- I mean Carlie she was clearly devastated, you know.
KING: What Cal?
REILLY: No, she didn't leave him, Larry.
KING: Then what happened?
REILLY: She didn't leave him, the man. Carlie's a sweetheart and she would never do that.
FERRELL: Yes, she would never do that, no, no. She asked me to leave her.
REILLY: See.
FERRELL: There's a total distinction there.
REILLY: There's a big difference.
KING: So after you lost and Cal won one race your wife moves in with her to live in sin.
FERRELL: Oh, no.
REILLY: No, no, no, Larry. We would never do that. Carlie divorced Ricky.
FERRELL: Yes.
REILLY: And then married me and then I tried to adopt his kids, no, go ahead.
KING: Well at least your two sons had a nice home.
FERRELL: Actually, Larry, she had, you know, me take -- take the boys with me, you know.
REILLY: I told her I want to make some fresh ones.
FERRELL: And we lived...
KING: Wait a minute.
FERRELL: Yes, you said "I want to make some fresh ones."
REILLY: I want to make some fresh ones.
KING: Fresh ones meaning children?
REILLY: Because these kids are stale. Yes.
FERRELL: Yes.
REILLY: So we just...
KING: Stale kids?
REILLY: So he ended up taking them.
FERRELL: I took the kids and we lived in my mom's apartment with her.
KING: With your mom?
FERRELL: Yes.
KING: And you, therefore, had Carlie to yourself?
REILLY: Yes but I mean as much as she would let me touch her. Usually she said "Let me take some Ambiens first. Then we could have sex. But I don't know what that was about. I think Ambien is an aphrodisiac, correct?
FERRELL: I think it is. It's like a rhino horn.
KING: I think we have that clip about breaking the news. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REILLY: We're getting married, Ricky, and we're getting matching Leprechaun tattoos.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Isn't that cute with a little pot of gold?
FERRELL: Is this some kind of joke? You guys putting me on?
REILLY: We just came up with a new nickname.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) it's so good.
REILLY: I've got a new nickname, the magic man. Now you see me. Now you don't.
FERRELL: That is the stupidest nickname I've ever heard.
REILLY: Is it Ricky? Because I think you wish you thought of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: I actually love that nickname.
REILLY: It's like watching a documentary.
FERRELL: Yes, it is an awesome documentary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REILLY: Watch the mail for that invitation to the wedding because I want you there.
FERRELL: What?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: Ken Burns actually wanted to direct this movie at first.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Honey, he's not going to come to the wedding.
FERRELL: Now do you realize the implications of your actions right now?
REILLY: What does implication mean?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
REILLY: I still didn't find out what implication means.
KING: But you were saying during that when we showed that clip that they wanted to do a documentary. Ken Burns wanted to direct this movie? FERRELL: Well, we were just saying it's like watching that footage is like watching a documentary and Ken Burns he's a real big -- he's a real close friend of ours and he wanted to -- he actually wanted to direct this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) FERRELL: That's the name of the game. You got to -- you got to have product endorsement out there and I mean just -- I just cut a deal with Meineke shocks for the -- for the space above my right butt cheek I'm going to get a Meineke tattoo.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
REILLY: When we recreated those scenes from our lives for the film there were a lot of tears.
FERRELL: There were a lot of tears.
KING: You had a lot of demons to overcome though, didn't you, a fear of failure, fear of driving?
FERRELL: Yes. Yes, absolutely, a fear of failure, a fear of driving, but with, you know, with the help of my daddy I eventually got back on track.
KING: Now, Ricky, your movie included one of your arch rivals named Jean Girard. We mentioned him earlier. He really knew how to push your buttons and get you guys going.
FERRELL: Well, you know, he's an embarrassment to NASCAR, Larry.
KING: Because he's gay?
FERRELL: Well, no. I mean well that's not a plus but he's strolling around the track with his croissants and Perrier.
REILLY: Larry, Jean Girard might have gotten to us but we got to him too.
FERRELL: Yes, we did.
REILLY: And all it took was a little shake...
FERRELL: And then bake.
REILLY: ...bake.
KING: And as we go to break let's take a look at the very thing and then we'll continue this discussion when we come back. What an honor to have them here with us tonight. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Listen, you better be careful because tomorrow you're going to get beaten, beaten real bad cowboy.
FERRELL: Really? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
FERRELL: That's news to me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tomorrow you're going to be (INAUDIBLE).
(CROSSTALK)
FERRELL: I play for keeps. I play for keeps.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I give you one option, Monsieur Bobby. As a sign of humility. If you kiss me on the lips now, I will return to Paris and you will never see me at nascar.
FERRELL: I don't like that guy. Never ever!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, yes or no?
FERRELL: That's sick.
FERRELL: He's so lucky I didn't punch him in the face.
FERRELL: He didn't see that coming at all.
KING: Let's talk more about the rivalry with the French driver. Why didn't you get along?
FERRELL: Well, Larry, I mean, it's his Frenchyness. You know? I mean, he loved all them soft cheeses, and he turned up his nose at Wonder Bread and Taco Bell.
REILLY: He talked funny, too. I couldn't understand a word the man was saying.
KING: And your dislike of him had nothing to do with the fact that he's gay?
FERRELL: Oh, shoot no, Larry. I got no problem with that. I mean hell, Cal's new girlfriend has kind of a mustache, and I love her to pieces. I'm very open-minded. I mean, what people do in the privacy of their own bedroom or swimming pool or --
REILLY: Yes, or on the 18th hole of a local golf course at noon or in the side car of their harley-davidson at the local drive-thru movie theatre.
KING: Let's move on. Let's talk about your family life, Ricky. Your boys. Tell me their names.
FERRELL: Well, there's Walker. And the younger one is Texas Ranger.
KING: No, seriously, what are their names?
FERRELL: Seriously. KING: Walker and Texas Ranger?
FERRELL: Yes.
KING: That was the name of a television show, called "Walker: Texas Ranger."
FERRELL: Yes. It's an amazing television show. That's where we got the name.
KING: But it was one guy. Walker, semi-colon, Texas Ranger.
FERRELL: Well, that's disputable. That's debatable. Because I think it was two guys. It was Walker and then it was Texas Ranger. But Texas Ranger got killed off in an early episode.
KING: They seem to be a bit on the mischievous side. Let's take a look at some of the things --
FERRELL: They are mischievous.
KING: Watch what they say to their grandfather, Chip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TEXAS RANGER FERRELL: Shut up, Chip. We do whatever we want, you old bat. The law doesn't apply to us. No one cares you fought in stupid World War II.
WALKER FERRELL: I'm serious, Chip. I'd really love to go three rounds with you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Wait a minute. Are you laughing? Is that typical behavior for children?
FERRELL: Yes, pretty much. I mean, unless they forget their meds. Then things get real fun.
REILLY: One night, Larry, at supper it was the cutest thing. They were playing cowboys and Indians with their grandpa, Chip. And they was the Indians and he was the cowboy. And they actually had bows and arrows, real arrows.
FERRELL: And they scalped him, but his hair eventually grew back.
REILLY: It was a minor surgery.
KING: I think it might be time for another break. You didn't bring the kids with you, did you?
FERRELL: Yes. But the last time I saw them they were in the lobby of the building three doors down.
REILLY: I think I saw them playing with the security guard's pistols.
KING: We'll take a break and be right back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: Boys, how was school today?
W. FERRELL: I threw a bunch of grandpa Chip's war medals off the bridge.
FERRELL: Sounds like a good day. Texas Ranger, how about you?
T. R. FERRELL: Well, the teacher asked me what was the capital of North Carolina.
FERRELL: Mm-hmm.
T.R. FERRELL: I said Washington, D.C.
FERRELL: Bingo.
T.R. FERRELL: She said no, you're wrong. I said you've got a lumpy butt. She got mad at me and yelled at me.
FERRELL: I'm so proud of you boys. You remind me of me. Precocious and full of wonderment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHIP FERRELL: I can't hold my tongue. These kids are my grandchildren, and you are raising them wrong.
T.R. FERRELL: Chip, I'm going to come at you like a spider monkey!
FERRELL: Yes. Turn up the heat. Go on and get some, boys.
T.R. FERRELL: I'm going to scissor kick you in the back of the head.
FERRELL: Shouldn't have brought this on, man.
C. FERRELL: You're going to let your sons talk to their grandfather like that? I'm their elder.
FERRELL: I sure as hell am, clip. I love the way they're talking to you. Because they're winners. Winners get to do what they want. Only thing you've ever done with your life is make a hot daughter. That's it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If we wanted us some wussies, we would have named them Dr. Quinn and Medicine Woman.
FERRELL: That's right, baby. Tell them.
(END VIDEO CLIP) KING: We're back now with the famous Nascar driver and the star of his autobiographical movie Ricky Bobby and his number one friend and number two driver Cal Naughton. Ricky, I'm sure you've heard the buzz around the town that a sequel to "Talladega Nights" might already be in the works.
REILLY: We're both pysched.
KING: Really, I wasn't sure you would be, especially since they're talking about having actors, actors play you this time.
FERRELL: Huh?
REILLY: Huh?
KING: That's right. "The Hollywood Reporter" says producers -- let me check this.
FERRELL: OK. This was not negotiated at all.
KING: Have already signed an actor to play you, Ricky. His name is Will Ferrell. Sound familiar?
FERRELL: Who the hell is that?
KING: He's a big-time comedian. Makes $20 million a movie. Used to be on "Saturday Night Live." Take a look at a clip of some of his works. He's the guy with the cowbell. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: Come on, Gene!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: He doesn't even look like me. He's got a beard and a perm.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: It doesn't work for me. I've got to have more cowbell.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't blow this for us, Gene!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: Good lord, he's a fat tub of (inaudible).
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Quit being so selfish, Gene.
FERRELL: Can I just say one thing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure, baby, just say it. FERRELL: I'm standing here (inaudible). And if Bruce Dickinson wants more cowbell, we should probably give him more cowbell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Well, what do you think?
FERRELL: I think there's got to be some kind of mistake. OK? I mean, maybe Heath Ledger, maybe Russell Crowe, you get someone good. Not that bozo.
KING: Well, apparently, Ricky, the thing that landed him the role was his willingness to take off his clothes on camera. He said he had the perfect body.
REILLY: Well, that's just stupid, Larry. He don't look nothing like Ricky.
KING: But wait. He's not just a comedian. He's also a serious actor. Take a look at what he did with his performance as a San Diego newsman in the 1970s. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks for stopping by.
FERRELL: Stay classy. I'm Ron Burgundy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks for stopping by.
FERRELL: Stay classy. Ron Burgundy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: He was on a news program?
REILLY: I guess he was.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: You're a real hooker, and I'm going to slap you in public.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have way too much pubic hair.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: Whoa.
(CROSSTALK)
REILLY: Is that the girl from "Married With Children?"
FERRELL: I think so.
REILLY: I didn't know she's a newscaster. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have man boobs.
FERRELL: You've got a dirty whorish mouth. That's what you have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: Wow, this is getting nasty.
KING: Cal, do you want to know who's playing you?
REILLY: Yes, I sure would. I mean, if you know.
KING: He's an actor by the name of Fifish Finkel (ph).
Stick around.
REILLY: That doesn't sound promising.
KING: Last saw him in a synagogue. We'll be right back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you prepared to walk away from these pearls of delight?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: At the top of the hour on "360," we are live from the war zone. We'll have the latest on all the activities here in the Middle East. Diplomatic efforts are heating up. There may some sort of U.N. resolution by as early as the beginning of next week. But still, the fighting on the ground in south Lebanon and points beyond continues. Helicopters have been seen over Tyre and even over a southern suburb of Beirut. We'll have all the latest information at the top of the hour on "360."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go, baby, go. What are you doing?
FERRELL: I've got to take a whiz.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It doesn't matter, Lucius. We're in last place. Relax.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Geez. I've got to go take a whiz.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: See, this is what I'm talking about. That's why this group right here is the laughing stock of NASCAR.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Face it, we suck. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I see Terry. He's having a chicken sandwich.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, fellas. These are really good. You should try one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: That was your big break is you took over for him.
FERRELL: Yes, I did. Yeah.
KING: Guess what? He's on the phone. Terry, are you there?
ADAM MCKAY, "TERRY CHEVEAUX": Yes, I'm right here. Can you hear me, Larry?
KING: I hear you fine, Mr. Cheveaux. How do you feel about all of this? You got so famous and you gave it up.
MCKAY: Well, I don't know how you think I feel, Larry. I'm bitter as hell. Right now, I live behind a pet shop in a tent selling fireworks to kids, and these guys are on national television.
REILLY: You're a big man to show up on the show, Terry.
FERRELL: You are. But you're still an idiot. Why did you get out of the car that day?
MCKAY: You know why I got out of the car? A simple human urge. Hunger and the need to use the bathroom. Larry, I mean, how many times have you been, you know, interviewing the president and in the middle of the interview you go, hey, I want to go get a sandwich or use the water closet?
FERRELL: I've never seen Larry do that.
KING: I don't think I've ever done that, Terry.
MCKAY: You've never done that? Well, I mean, I love you, and with all due respect, I think you're a liar.
KING: Do you think you would have done as well as Bobby did had you stayed with the car that day?
MCKAY: I think there's no doubt about it. And I have some things I'd like to say...
FERRELL: Terry, you were 900 laps down. OK?
MCKAY: Well, that's called setting up some people, lulling them into a false sense of security for the win.
FERRELL: You would have had to race for eight straight hours just to get back to one lap down.
MCKAY: Oh, look at him. He's 900 laps down, he's not a threat. And then, wham, I'm up in first place. FERRELL: That guy -- he's a weird dude.
REILLY: He's obviously delusional.
KING: Terry, I don't mean to editorialize here, but that is a little weird what you did.
MCKAY: Well, you know, you can say weird, you can say normal. Everyone's got different opinions. Larry, I'd like to say something to Ricky.
KING: Go ahead.
MCKAY: It's been years, and I want to get this off my chest. First off, I haven't owned a TV in about 15 years because I've been on hard times. Am I allowed to curse on the air? Is that...
KING: We'll edit it out, but go ahead.
REILLY: We don't think so.
MCKAY: Ricky, Cal, please give me another chance. Let me come back in your world and I will prove you wrong, please.
REILLY: What, is this like a Pete Rose moment? Get over it, dude. Just let it go. You're out of the game.
KING: He's crying. The man is crying.
MCKAY: I'm having a hard time, man. Some days, I don't have clothes. Some days I've got to be naked because...
(CROSSTALK)
KING: Terry?
MCKAY: Yes.
KING: Goodbye, Terry.
MCKAY: All right, Larry. I love your show, by the way.
KING: Thank you. How can you love it? You don't have a TV.
MCKAY: All right.
KING: To most of our viewers, your life is a fantasy. You drive fast cars, you're rich, you spend time with beautiful women. Take us through a day in the life of Ricky Bobby and Cal Naughton.
FERRELL: Well, first thing we do is wake up around 10:00 a.m.
REILLY: And then I make the waffles. And we watch "Spongebob" until 1:00 or 2:00 in the afternoon usually, most days.
FERRELL: Then we go play G.I. Joe's in my basement for two hours.
REILLY: And then I make fajitas. Right?
FERRELL: And then we put on Hulk foam boxing gloves and we box.
REILLY: Yeah, and then we watch "White Chicks," that movie. You ever seen it? It's hilarious.
FERRELL: Hilarious. And then we shoot pumpkins with my .22.
REILLY: And then we actually act out some scenes from "Red Dawn," the movie.
FERRELL: Wolverines! Then we go to the mall for a few hours and buy sunglasses.
REILLY: And then Ricky's wife buys dinner, usually, we start to get hungry.
KING: What do you usually eat for dinner in the household?
FERRELL: Pretty much anything from any place that sponsors my race team and delivers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOBBY: Dear lord, baby Jesus, we thank you so much for this bountiful harvest of Domino's, KFC, and the always delicious Taco Bell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FERRELL: So Carly works the phones like crazy every night at supper time, God bless her.
KING: Can I get personal with you?
FERRELL: I'd rather you not.
KING: What are you afraid of?
FERRELL: Come on, stop it, Larry.
KING: I mean, what makes Ricky Bobby wake up at night afraid?
FERRELL: Don't do this to me.
REILLY: King, he said stop. He don't want to talk about his fears.
KING: You don't?
FERRELL: No, I don't.
KING: You're in a safe place.
REILLY: Got to push it.
FERRELL: All right. I'm afraid sometimes that people will know that I'm afraid. And will laugh at me.
REILLY: Oh, my god. You're afraid?
FERRELL: You said it was going to be a safe place. Hey, stop, it man.
REILLY: I can't believe you said is it. Are you kidding, man? You're not afraid, come on, that's ridiculous.
KING: Let's take a break, guys. Compose yourselves. When we get back, we'll end the show with e-mail questions from the bloggers of NASCAR.com. That's next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I never told anybody this. Anybody. But you know, sometimes when it's real late at night --
FERRELL: I got an offer that Summer to do Playgirl Magazine. And I did a full spread. And I mean spread. But I didn't.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back with our remaining moments. And we've got e- mails. Dear Ricky, have you ever had to relieve yourself in the car while you were still in the middle of a race?
FERRELL: Well, I don't think so because I don't drink any fluids for about three days going into a race.
KING: Three days.
FERRELL: I make sure basically my body's fluid-less.
KING: So you've never had to do that?
FERRELL: No.
KING: From Scott in Cincinnati, Ricky, I've noticed that some Nascar drivers have gotten plastic surgery lately to improve their looks. Have you had any plastic surgery, and if not, what would you like to have done?
FERRELL: Well, it's always been a goal to get butt implants. Because I've got --
KING: Butt implants?
FERRELL: Yes. I've got kind of a flat hiney. I'd like to improve that.
REILLY: Who doesn't? If I had the cash I would too.
KING: You're nodding your, you'd do it too?
REILLY: Yes, I'd like it big, like Beyonce.
FERRELL: Big haunches.
REILLY: That means I'm well fed.
FERRELL: I want to get like a J. Lo butt.
KING: Dear Ricky Bobby, was just wondering what your response would have been to Tony Stewart if he'd have punted like you did Clint Boyer a couple of Sundays ago?
FERRELL: What my response would be? First of all I'd go Cal, bring the nunchucks (ph).
REILLY: Yes, exactly.
FERRELL: And then we'd probably go at it.
REILLY: I'm the unofficial security force. You mess with this you're messing with --
KING: You guys are clean drivers?
REILLY: I shower before every race.
KING: No, I don't mean that. Dear Ricky Bobby. This is from Zachary. What did you do before becoming a race car driver?
FERRELL: I used to have some jobs around the house. Well, I painted signs. I worked in a dry cleaners once.
REILLY: We did shopping cart retrieval for a while.
KING: You mean out in the parking lot?
REILLY: No, when people take them home and stuff.
KING: You'd follow them and --
REILLY: We'd stalk them down. Hey, man, that's not your property. Sometimes we did a little --
KING: From Janet, Ricky, what's your favorite barbecue restaurant?
FERRELL: Oh, I like Little Pete's.
REILLY: I guess I'm not that popular on the Internet. Not a single question for me yet man.
KING: Well, you finish second all the time.
(CROSSTALK) KING: From D. Fife. Dear Ricky, it must be hard to stay humble being the best. How do you rate yourself compared to the all time Nascar greats?
FERRELL: To the all-time Nascar greats? I would say I'm in the top one.
KING: From Nascar Luna for Cal. How does it feel to be mobbed by those chicks at the track?
REILLY: Well, I don't, being mobbed by women is not a problem in my book, Larry. You know what I mean? I like, that's called massage to me. I mean, I just try to grab as many as I can and get them in the trailer.
KING: In the trailer?
FERRELL: He gets lady drunk.
REILLY: I get drunk on their lady lumps.
KING: This for both of you. Do you ever have the feeling like you're being controlled by the man when it comes to your sponsors? For example, when Home Depot requested that Tony Stewart seek anger management classes. Have you ever had to draw a line in the asphalt? Give 'em hell Ricky, they want to say.
FERRELL: Thank you. I appreciate that. We are going to give 'em hell. And I wonder, I was once sponsored by Preparation H and you know, they wanted -- they wanted me to --
KING: What did they want you to do?
FERRELL: They wanted me to use their product. But I don't have hemorrhoids. You know, so that's just false advertising.
REILLY: I ended up using the stuff for bags under my eyes just to --
KING: You put Preparation H on your face?
REILLY: I wanted to help him out.
FERRELL: It's known as the $5 face-lift.
REILLY: When they said that to Tony Stewart, I said just let me take care of the guy and we just did some home-made boxing stuff. And we got out some of that aggression.
KING: From Sampson 93, whose style of racing do you pattern yourself after? Jeff Gordon, Junior, Stroker, Speed Racer? Who?
FERRELL: You know what? I think I pattern most of my racing after Kenny Rogers' character in six pack, which is probably the greatest race car movie ever made, I think.
KING: Why did you steal Jamie McMurray's number?
FERRELL: Well -- REILLY: Was it his to begin with?
KING: And from Leslie in Norfolk, Virginia, do the fame, the attention, and the fans ever get to you?
FERRELL: Well, sometimes you need a little me time. You need to get away. And that's why we like to take a lot of trips. We took a fan boat trip to the Everglades once. We took a tour of the Jack Daniels facility.
KING: How did you come out? All right?
FERRELL: Not bad.
REILLY: We were doing a custom tour designed by Linda Daniels.
FERRELL: By Linda Daniels, the great, great, great granddaughter of Jack Daniels. We became really good friends. We could call her on our cell phone right now if you wanted to talk to her.
REILLY: I went in on a condo with her in coral gables. Me and Linda.
KING: So when does the movie open?
FERRELL: August 4th. Yes.
KING: Ricky Bobby.
FERRELL: Larry.
KING: You have two first names, you know.
REILLY: Mr. King.
KING: Ricky Bobby, Cal Naughton, thank you for an eye-opening hour. The movie is "Talladega Nights." It is a very, very special edition of LARRY KING LIVE that they have provided for us. We thank them very, very much.
FERRELL: Are we supposed to tip you?
KING: No.
FERRELL: Oh.
KING: Just thanks very much. Keep on riding. And let's close with --
FERRELL: Shake and bake.
KING: Shake and bake.
FERRELL: Now you've got it.
REILLY: Got a little fire in it that time. FERRELL: I like that.
KING: Good night.
REILLY: See you in hell, Waltrip.
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