Little Debbie – On March 18, 2015, actor Will Ferrell appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in a memorable and comedic impersonation of the iconic mascot of the American snack cake brand. Dressed in a full wig, hat, and blue plaid dress, Ferrell carried a basket filled with snack cakes, including Swiss Rolls and Zebra Cakes. His performance was a hilarious blend of self-deprecation and character impersonation, as he humorously claimed to be the new face of the beloved snack brand.
Ferrell’s character was a delightful surprise for the audience. He humorously stated that since he was no longer the Hollywood heartthrob he once was and his face wasn’t generating as much income as before, he had to take on this role to feed his mouth—specifically his own mouth. He even joked about disciplining his children while dressed as the character, saying, “If I come around the corner dressed like this… oh, they know they did something wrong. My wife will say, ‘Don’t make dad change into that outfit!'”
During the interview, Ferrell addressed host Jimmy Fallon as “Jim” and insisted on being called by his character’s name. Fallon attempted to interview him about his new movie, Get Hard, but Ferrell playfully resisted, focusing instead on his new role. He even conducted a blind taste test to differentiate between a baked potato and a snack cake, showcasing his newfound expertise.
The character, created in 1960, is depicted as a cute girl in a blue plaid dress and straw hat, symbolizing the brand’s snack cakes. McKee Foods, the parent company, expressed delight at Ferrell’s impersonation. Mike Gloekler, the corporate communications and public relations manager of McKee Foods, stated that while this was not a coordinated publicity stunt or paid advertisement, they appreciated the humor of the segment and the exposure of the brand to Jimmy Fallon’s large national TV audience.
Ferrell’s appearance was part of his promotional activities for Get Hard. The previous day, he had appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman dressed in green attire for St. Patrick’s Day. His performance on The Tonight Show continued his late-night TV character impersonations, showcasing his comedic talent and ability to engage audiences.
Ferrell’s Transformation into Little Debbie
Ferrell’s transformation was complete with the iconic blue plaid dress, straw hat, and curly red wig. He carried a basket filled with snack cakes, embodying the brand’s mascot perfectly. Fallon introduced him, to which Ferrell playfully corrected, “It’s that character, not just any character. Emphasis on the ittle.”
Ferrell’s Dialogue and Performance
Ferrell humorously claimed to be the new face of the snack brand, stating, “Let’s be honest, Jim. I’m not the Hollywood hunk I once was. This mug ain’t making theool mah like it used to. I got a mouth to feed. Specifically, my mouth.” He then spoke directly to the audience, saying, “Do you like snacks? Do you like cakes? Do you like snack cakes? I thought so! Well, this is very exciting: Tonight, everyone in the audience has the opportunity to go out and buy some snack cakes!”
Ferrell also mentioned that as part of his 30-year contract with the brand, he had to wear the outfit almost all the time, sometimes in movies and even when disciplining his children. He joked, “If I come around the corner dressed like this… oh, they know they did something wrong. My wife will say, ‘Don’t make dad change into that outfit!'” At one point, Fallon tried to interview Ferrell about his new movie, but Ferrell insisted on being called by his character’s name and proceeded to prove that he could tell the difference between a baked potato and a snack cake. Fallon and the audience were left in stitches throughout the interaction.
Fallon’s Reaction and Interaction
Fallon was amused by Ferrell’s performance, laughing uncontrollably several times. Ferrell referred to Fallon as “Jim” throughout the interview and playfully called him “Smiles the Clown sitting on his leather throne.” At one point, Ferrell joked that Fallon would eventually follow in his footsteps, saying, “It’s gonna happen to you. The gravy train’s gonna run out, and you’re gonna have to start doing this!” Fallon humorously responded, “Have you run into other mascots? Like, who’s doing the Keebler Elves?” Ferrell quipped, “Keebler Elves right now, it’s some of the cast from Mad Men.” Fallon further inquired, “What about Cheez-It?” Ferrell replied, “Owen Wilson is a Cheez-It guy now!”
The Brand’s Response
McKee Foods was delighted by Ferrell’s impersonation. Mike Gloekler stated, “McKee Foods was delightfully surprised by Will Ferrell’s appearance. While this was not a coordinated publicity stunt or paid advertisement, we appreciate both the humor of the segment and the exposure of our brand to Jimmy Fallon’s huge national TV audience. In our opinion, Will Ferrell did justice to the cowgirl hat and the blue and white dress that are hallmarks of the brand. We also enjoyed seeing the studio audience so eager to get their hands on our delicious snack cakes.”
The Background of the Event
At the time, Ferrell was promoting his upcoming comedy film Get Hard, in which he stars alongside Kevin Hart. The movie follows Ferrell’s character, a wealthy businessman wrongfully accused of tax evasion, who hires his only African American friend (played by Hart) to prepare him for life in prison. Ferrell’s appearance on The Tonight Show was part of his late-night TV promotional rounds for the film. The previous day, he had appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman dressed in green attire for St. Patrick’s Day. His portrayal of the character on The Tonight Show continued his late-night TV character impersonations, showcasing his comedic talent and ability to engage audiences.
The Impact of the Event
Ferrell’s impersonation brought significant attention to the brand. While the sketch was humorous, it also highlighted Ferrell’s comedic skills and his ability to entertain audiences. The performance further demonstrated his versatility as an actor and comedian, as well as his willingness to experiment with different characters and styles to promote his work. The segment was widely shared online and discussed on social media, generating buzz for both Get Hard and the brand. Although Ferrell was not officially appointed as the spokesperson, his appearance as the character left a lasting impression on viewers and became one of the memorable moments of his promotional tour for Get Hard.
In summary, Will Ferrell’s impersonation on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was a humorous and entertaining segment that showcased his comedic talent and brought attention to both his new movie Get Hard and the beloved snack brand. The performance delighted host Jimmy Fallon and the audience, while also earning appreciation from McKee Foods for its humor and brand exposure. Ferrell’s portrayal remains a classic example of his comedic style and versatility as an actor.
