‘Anchorman 2’ Inspires New Exhibit In Washington D.C.
Anchorman 2 is not just a sequel to Will Ferrell’s breakout film any more. It’s now the inspiration for a Newseum exhibit.
Anchorman was about a motley crew of TV news reporters who embodied everything that was “manly” about the job, and the race for the best news first. Will Ferrell played the lead role of Ron Burgundy, a man’s man and a bit of a misogynist, who was suddenly teamed up with a female reporter (Christina Applegate) who turned out just as good as he was. The film surrounded the instant rivalry which led to a sporadic relationship and Ron Burgundy eventually getting fired over a mistake he wasn’t even aware he made. He finally got his job back after facing a Kodiak bear to protect the woman who replaced him.
Anchorman 2 is well on its way on December 20, and a museum in Washington, D.C. has opened an exhibit in the comedy film’s honor. In a partnership with Paramount Pictures, the Newseum is set to feature an elaborate tribute to Will Ferrell’s breakout film. The props, outfits, and even the Channel 4 news desk will be on display until August 31, 2014.
The Anchorman exhibit was the idea of the actor himself, according to Rolling Stone, “Will Ferrell was at the Newseum in the summer of 2012. His creative team thought it was a great idea to collaborate with us for an Anchorman exhibit. We immediately got excited about the possibilities.”
Part of the exhibit will be the chance for Newseum patrons to sit at the desk itself, and even step in front of the camera to do their take on Ron Burgundy’s newscast.
On hand will be even the small details like the mustache brush and makeup mirror, as well as Brian Fantana’s Sex Panther cologne and Arturo Mendez’s whip. There won’t be any Scotchy Scotch Scotch ice cream though.
Cathy Trost, vice president of exhibits and programs, says that as sexist as the film’s characters were, Anchorman had a certain authenticity to it:
“There really was a time in news history when men owned the anchor chair. We tell stories about challenges women faced to be taken seriously in the news business.”
Hope it smells of rich mahogany: #Anchorman exhibit opens at DC’s @Newseum; via @maryforgione, http://t.co/tDWBxDJNc6 ^S
— LA Times Comms Dept (@LATimesFreshInk) November 14, 2013
With the upcoming release of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, it’s only fitting to pay homage to the original, though Will Ferrell‘s film isn’t the only form of media involved. Also included among the Newseum exhibits are Ted Baxter of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Candace Bergen’s Murphy Brown, and real life anchor Judy Woodruff.
The idea is to point out the differences in newscasts through the years, and what better way to do that than to add an exhibit for the original film in time for the release of Anchorman 2?
