Will Ferrell Draws Big Ratings for Live Performance of You're Welcome America

Will Ferrell ended his successful Broadway run with a bang: The live performance of his satirical show You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush on March 14 drew 2.3 million viewers on HBO. According to Variety, that’s the largest audience for a comedy special on the premium cable network since Chris Rock: Never Scared in April 2004.

Ferrell began his eight-week run at the Cort Theatre on January 20, opened on February 5, and closed on March 15. You’re Welcome America gave Broadway a big wintertime boost, playing to capacity crowds at one of the highest average ticket prices of any show on the Great White Way. As of February 19, the show had recouped its entire original investment of $2.09 million, and Ferrell & Co. grossed $880,470 in their final week on Broadway, a higher box-office take than many big-budget musicals.

In addition to Ferrell, the cast of You're Welcome America included Michael Delaney as Dr. Scott Blumeth, Patrick Ferrell as a Secret Service Operative, Pia Glenn as Condoleezza Rice and Adam Mucci as the Pilot.