Letters to the Editor
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Ben Stiller
Maybe I'm just out of synch with the times, but it's not Ben Stiller whose career mistifies me, it's Will Ferrel's. Ben Stiller old FOX show did indeed have some great writers, not to mention cast members (Janeane Garofolo for starters), but the man himself was ALWAYS funny. The claims of nepotism just don't fly. With that underrated (Nielsen-wise) but highly rated (popularity-wise) show, Stiller earned his shot. Sure, his dad may have made a few phone calls to get him the gig, but it was he who was smart enough to hire people like Odenkirk and Garafolo in the first place.
As for movies, Stiller has been hilarious in MANY of the films in which he's starred. MEET THE PARENTS, anyone? THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY, ZOOLANDER, DODGEBALL, etc., etc. He's not a genius, but he IS very, very good most of the time. His specialty is playing the guy caught in embarassing, squirm-inducing circumstances, so he was a natural pick for HEARTBREAK KID.
Now Ferrel, THERE'S somebody whose whole career has been shepherded by Hollywood's equivalent of the Axis of Evil: Bernie Brillstein, Brad Grey and Lorne Michaels. Without them, Ferrel would be deservedly unknown.