Remember when a surprise Will Ferrell cameo was an automatic home run?
Monday night’s Home Run Derby suggested those days may be long gone.
Netflix’s “marquee” event featured not just the unpopular Elle Duncan, but Ferrell, whose routine quickly became one of the night’s most dreaded moments at Citizens Bank.
Add Netflix’s audio and crashing issues to the mix, and you’ve got two very skippable hours of television.
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Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays meets Juan Soto of the New York Mets during the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa., on Monday, July 13, 2026. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Ferrell did the whole “sport ball” routine, stumbling into the broadcast booth like he’d wandered over from happy hour before firing off a string of groan-worthy jokes, including one about Bryce Harper.
“The Liberty Bell comes and takes photos of HIM,” Ferrell deadpanned.
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The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand wasn’t impressed, posting on X: “Will Ferrell and company may want to say something funny.”
Will Ferrell looks on before the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
“No he’s not lol. This is cringe as hell. If these guys are announcing the whole time I’m about to mute this. We have fallen so far from Chris Berman,” one fan posted on X.
Another reaction read:
“Get these a**holes away from the microphone, or we’re all turning it off.”
Ferrell’s routine suddenly felt less “Old School” and more just old.
Will Ferrell is seen in attendance during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United FC and Burnley FC at Elland Road in Leeds, England, on Sept. 14, 2024. (George Wood/Getty Images)
As for Elle Duncan, the ex-ESPN host was already catching heat after Opening Day, and Monday night’s return to the MLB spotlight didn’t fare any better.
OutKick founder Clay Travis posted on X during the Derby:
“Who at Netflix decided we’re going to make Elle Duncan the face and voice of Netflix Sports? And how does that person still have a job? Legit they have all the money in the world and this was their pick. It’s like giving Davis Mills a $200 million contract.”
It might’ve been the worst Derby performance since Jazz Chisholm Jr. managed just three home runs in last year’s event.
There was a time when Will Ferrell could do no wrong.
Monday night wasn’t one of those nights.
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Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
