The annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, is a festive tradition in the US, having taken place on New Year's Day for over a century. This year, however, things were a little different...
Credit: Amazon Prime Video
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Yes, Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon look to have wrecked many viewers' experience of the celebration this year by relentlessly taking the piss out of it without people realising.
Playing fictional news anchors Cord Hosenback and Tish Cattigan, the comedians presented a spoof commentary of the parade for Amazon Video, in the style of naff, meandering local TV coverage.
The pair's two-hour stint 'covering' the parade was as weird as it was hilarious, touching upon - among other things - Hosenbeck's fear of horses and his potential run for US President. In hindsight, the prank shouldn't have been hard to spot.
"We're streaming on Amazon Prime Video, and we have no idea what that is," Ferrell's bald, glasses-wearing host said as the former Saturday Night Live stars introduced themselves.
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"We've been told people can watch it all over the world on phones and watches and shoes, and whatever. They tell me stuff, and I don't believe it."
However, many people watching on New Year's Day clearly didn't get the joke as Amazon's website logged almost 1,400 one-star reviews due to Hosenback and Cattigan's 'horrible' presenting style.
"Terrible. Sophomoric. Inane banter. Switched to network coverage after 10 minutes. Amazon sure blew this one," wrote one viewer.
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"Horrible," added another. "I wanted to hear one of the local bands, but the unfunny hoses were babbling some nonsense about omega-3s and salmon...what? It wasn't funny, it was idiots babbling to hear themselves talk. Who are these hosts? Even more telling, when the pony rescue came by dressed in steampunk style, they made fun of them and said 'What's steampunk? I have no idea and am not sure I want to know.' Really? How out of touch are these unfunny fossils?"
"Fantastic camera work, but someone replace the two morons hosting this!!!!!!" a third said.
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Over on Amazon Prime Video's YouTube channel, where the clip was also shown, people were just as unhappy.
One YouTube commenter wrote: "If you want to see a epic failure and the worst coverage of the rose parade ever...... Turn this on now... It will make you want to throw your remote through your tv! 2 annoying hosts talked through the entire thing about nothing, all while not letting you hear the band's." [sic]
"This might be worth a watch if somebody duct taped Cord & Tishes mouth shut. People enjoy hearing the parade, the bands, etc. and not their empty, moronic chatter," another said.
Looks like Ferrell and Shannon's attempt to liven up the parade was only a mixed success. Maybe next year, viewers will be in on the joke - or just lighten up.
Featured Image Credit: Amazon Prime VideoTopics: Entertainment, TV and Film, US News, Amazon, Will Ferrell, Streaming, amazon prime