That Show – Two Words: “More Cowbell”

On April 8th 2000, an unsuspecting world experienced what would go down in history as one of the funniest skecthes in “Saturday Night Live” history. Simply known now as “More Cowbell,” this absurd and ridiculous sketch, featuring host Christopher Walken and cast members Will Farrell, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan, Chris Parnell and Horatio Sanz, was about the recording of a classic rock song by Blue Oyster Cult. Known for the over-enthusiastic cowbell playing by Farrell, the otherworldly reactions of Walken, and the entire cast breaking on stage, this sketch has become almost mythic in reputation. In this episode, you will learn the origin of the sketch, the backstory of how it got on the air, how a wardrobe change put it over the top, and how, incredibly, it almost became a movie. You’ll hear from Farrell, Fallon, Parnell and Walken, telling stories about how, 23 years later, “More Cowbell” still haunts them, and you will find out how the members of Blue Oyster Cult feel about the whole thing (including the man who REALLY played the cowbell on the track). But, as hilarious and classic as “More Cowbell” is, it was NOT the funniest sketch of that night. What was the funniest sketch of the night? Well, you gotta listen to this episode of “That Show Hasn’t Been Funny in Years” to find out. [EP20]