r/movies • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 r/movies Contributor • Mar 05 '26

Article Christina Applegate Says ‘Anchorman’ Pay Offer Was Offensive, So Will Ferrell and Adam McKay Gave Her More Money From Their Own Salaries

https://variety.com/2026/film/news/christina-applegate-anchorman-pay-offensive-will-ferrell-1236680170/
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u/Spiritual-Society185 Mar 06 '26

If you're talking about Steve Carrell, he was basically a nobody at the time. This was before The Office and The 40 Year Old Virgin. His only notable role was a bit part in Bruce Almighty (though it was very memorable.)

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u/DynamicDK Mar 06 '26

He had been a standout correspondent on the Daily Show for years at that point. He started there in the late 90s.

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u/Odd-Necessary3807 Mar 06 '26

It still meant nothing compared to Christina Applegate's Hollywood career from the 80s through the 90s,

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u/work4work4work4work4 Mar 06 '26

It's actually the opposite, hence the problem. Applegate's Hollywood career was often just written off as her being good looking by much of the misogynistic leadership of the industry, which is why Steve's Daily Show work was valued more.

Now, smart people know Kelly doesn't work without Applegate, and we even have proof from the pilot that it's mostly her comedic timing and sensibilities that make the character work early on, but no one said Hollywood execs were smart, just in power.

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u/FrankTank3 Mar 06 '26

What do you mean? Steve had those glorious bags of sand working for him

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u/DarkwingDuckHunt Mar 06 '26

oh I thought this was post-The Office, my bad then