The Home Run Derby is in its first year of a three-year deal on Netflix and like with past sporting events, the streaming giant has gone all-out to promote its content. One integration went horribly.
As 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of the classic film ‘Rocky’ – which is set in Philadelphia, the host of the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby – the pre-event introduction invoked boxing thanks to legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer.
Players walked out to a home plate-shaped boxing ring as Buffer joyfully revealed the eight athletes taking part in the event.
That’s where the introductions should have stopped. Instead, Netflix brought in Will Ferrell in-character to promote his latest comedy series.
Ferrell arrived as Lonnie ‘The Hawk’ Hawkins, the character he plays in Netflix’s ‘The Hawk’ – which is set to premiere in a matter of days.
He was joined by co-stars Luke Wilson and Jimmy Tatro to make comments about the players as they walked out to the ring.
Fans were critical of Will Ferrell’s awkward role in the Netflix broadcast of the Home Run Derby
Ferrell was used to promote his upcoming Netflix comedy series ‘The Hawk’ and provided awkward comedic commentary with co-stars Luke Wilson (L) and Jimmy Tatro (R)
Their jokes often cut over the words of the event’s MC, boxing announcer Michael Buffer
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Was Will Ferrell’s cameo a home run or a strikeout?
It went horribly. Not only did the commentary from the trio seem random at times, the audio mixing was so off that you could rarely hear anything they said.
Adding insult to injury, their words often clashed with Michael Buffer’s introductions – leading to muddled or cut-off reactions from both sides.
Social media was overwhelmingly negative over the clumsy execution and what felt like a forced promotional tactic.
‘Maybe I’m way off, but I don’t think the Will Ferrell-Luke Wilson thing is working at all. (Honestly, I get the sense that *they* also know it isn’t working.)’ wrote one user on X.
Another said, ‘Love Will Ferrell, but we don’t need him here and can’t hear him on the broadcast. Cross promotion has its limits.’
‘Will Ferrell and company may want to say something funny,’ commented The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand.
One comment read, ‘I can’t believe Netflix ruined the Home Run Derby and Will Ferrell in the first 10 minutes.’
‘This was a difficult watch. Just bad. I like these guys, but this was an awkward fit. I just don’t know if all this extra stuff is needed. Idk. Maybe I’m just lame,’ read another comment.
