Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby hung on to the #1 spot at the box office this past weekend, with box office receipts of a $23,000,000. That brings the gross of the film to $91,217,000. The dance film, Step Up came in second with $21,065,000. Oliver Stone's World Trade Center came in at third place with $19,016,000. New Yorkers, in particular, weren't thrilled with the idea of a 9/11 movie so soon after the event and the rest of the national movie audience just didn't seem interested either.
Earlier this month,
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly showed up Larry King Live to promote Talledega Nights film and did the entire interview in character as Ricky Bobby and his best friend, Cal Naughton, Jr. In a hilarious segment, racing legend Dale Earnhardt, Jr. called in to give the two racers some grief.
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.
Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby hung on to the #1 spot at the box office this past weekend, with box office receipts of a $23,000,000. That brings the gross of the film to $91,217,000. The dance film, Step Up came in second with $21,065,000. Oliver Stone's World Trade Center came in at third place with $19,016,000. New Yorkers, in particular, weren't thrilled with the idea of a 9/11 movie so soon after the event and the rest of the national movie audience just didn't seem interested either.
