More Cowbell
"More Cowbell" is a comedy sketch that aired on Saturday Night Live on April 8, 2000. The sketch was written by regular cast member Will Ferrell and playwright Donnell Campbell and depicts the recording of the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult. The sketch stars guest host Christopher Walken as music producer Bruce Dickinson, and Ferrell as fictional cowbell player Gene Frenkle, whose overzealous playing annoys his bandmates but pleases producer Dickinson. The sketch also features Chris Parnell as Eric Bloom, Jimmy Fallon as Bobby Rondinelli, Chris Kattan as Buck Dharma and Horatio Sanz as Joe Bouchard.
| "More Cowbell" | |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night Live sketch | |
Bruce Dickinson (Christopher Walken) demands "more cowbell" | |
| Written by | Will Ferrell Donnell Campbell |
| Cast | Jimmy Fallon Will Ferrell Chris Kattan Chris Parnell Horatio Sanz |
| Original air date | April 8, 2000 |
| Guests | Christopher Walken |
The sketch is considered one of the greatest SNL sketches ever made; in many "best of" lists of SNL sketches, it is often placed in the top ten (ranked number nine by Rolling Stone, for example). As a result of its popularity, "more cowbell" became an American pop culture catchphrase, and has even entered the dictionary.