{"id":1904843,"date":"2026-04-27T10:20:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T07:20:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1904843"},"modified":"2026-04-27T10:20:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T07:20:58","slug":"zach-galifianakis-rules-out-between-two-ferns-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1904843","title":{"rendered":"Zach Galifianakis Rules Out Between Two Ferns Return"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-cy=\"article-content\" class=\"jsx-2870106660 article-content page-0\">\n<section data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-28683165 news\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis made waves in the twenty-tens for its awkward interviews with celebrities, and clips of its surreal, satirical talk show improv still do the rounds on the internet. The Hangover star would ask the likes of Brad Pitt and even former U.S. president Barack Obama insults dressed up as questions that would often get both interviewer and interviewee laughing uncontrollably. But after a 10-year run, Between Two Ferns came to an end in 2019 with <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/2019\/09\/20\/between-two-ferns-netflix-movie-review\">Between Two Ferns: The Movie<\/a>. Since then, nothing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">So, would Galifianakis consider restarting Between Two Ferns for a new era? Based on comments he gave recently while promoting his new Netflix series This Is a Gardening Show, it\u2019s unlikely.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Speaking on <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/CXfDMhCsG2Y?si=JujOaAQXiQ53R9GL\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Rich Eisen Show<\/a>, Galifianakis said that \u201ctonally\u201d Between Two Ferns wouldn\u2019t work these days, because \u201cwe&#8217;re living in meaner times.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">Between Two Ferns Gallery<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Zach Galifianakis in Between Two Ferns\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Zach Galifianakis in Between Two Ferns\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 4 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Zach Galifianakis in Between Two Ferns\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Zach Galifianakis in Between Two Ferns\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cI feel like we&#8217;re kind of living in meaner times right now,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I&#8217;m not sure that that, tonally, might work at this moment. I don&#8217;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Rich Eisen then suggested that the audience is in on the joke now, and Galifianakis replied to say &#8220;maybe that is the reason&#8221; to return to the show.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Galifianakis went on to explain that Between Two Ferns was not a show about pranking his guests. Indeed, they were often in on the joke, although it wasn\u2019t until the bloopers were released that the cat was officially out the bag. \u201cI&#8217;ve never been interested in pranking anyone,\u201d Galifianakis said. \u201cI always wanted it to be a joint effort, but I never wanted the audience to think that. Then when we showed the bloopers we kind of gave that up a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Galifianakis added that his guests did not get the questions ahead of time, because \u201cthat takes away the element of surprise, that you need that honest reaction from them.\u201d Obama, Galifianakis confirmed, was the only guest who got the questions ahead of time.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-theme=\"light\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Brad Pitt answers Zach Galifianakis&#8217;s ultimate question about his acting career <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/F1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#F1<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AppleTV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#AppleTV<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SonnyHayes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#SonnyHayes<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/interview?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#interview<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KjsLLhcALI\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/KjsLLhcALI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Funny Or Die (@funnyordie) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/funnyordie\/status\/1945918241005539785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Galifianakis has said that Between Two Ferns started as a way to make fun of \u201cthe sycophantic way that Hollywood machine runs.\u201d In the 2014 episode featuring Brad Pitt, the actor was referred to as both &#8220;Bradley Pitts&#8221; and &#8220;Bart Pit.&#8221; At one point, Galifianakis asked Pitt if his relationship with wife, Angelina Jolie, was anything like Ross and Rachel from Friends.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In 2016, Galifianakis admitted that Between Two Ferns had \u201crun its course a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Photo by Chelsea Lauren\/Variety\/Penske Media via Getty Images.<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-1475529924\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 bobble bobble-1 pogocnt pg-article\">\n<div data-mix-name=\"secondaryMedrec\" data-pos=\"1\" data-pogo-hide=\"1\" class=\"jsx-343126785 pogo-slot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis made waves in the twenty-tens for its awkward interviews with celebrities, and clips of its surreal, satirical talk show improv still do the rounds on the internet. The Hangover star would ask the likes of Brad Pitt and even former U.S. president Barack Obama insults dressed up as questions that would often get both interviewer and interviewee laughing uncontrollably. But after a 10-year run, Between Two Ferns came to an end in 2019 with <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/2019\/09\/20\/between-two-ferns-netflix-movie-review\">Between Two Ferns: The Movie<\/a>. Since then, nothing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">So, would Galifianakis consider restarting Between Two Ferns for a new era? Based on comments he gave recently while promoting his new Netflix series This Is a Gardening Show, it\u2019s unlikely.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Speaking on <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/CXfDMhCsG2Y?si=JujOaAQXiQ53R9GL\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Rich Eisen Show<\/a>, Galifianakis said that \u201ctonally\u201d Between Two Ferns wouldn\u2019t work these days, because \u201cwe&#8217;re living in meaner times.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">Between Two Ferns Gallery<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Zach Galifianakis in Between Two Ferns\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Zach Galifianakis in Between Two Ferns\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 4 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Zach Galifianakis in Between Two Ferns\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Zach Galifianakis in Between Two Ferns\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cI feel like we&#8217;re kind of living in meaner times right now,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I&#8217;m not sure that that, tonally, might work at this moment. I don&#8217;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Rich Eisen then suggested that the audience is in on the joke now, and Galifianakis replied to say &#8220;maybe that is the reason&#8221; to return to the show.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Galifianakis went on to explain that Between Two Ferns was not a show about pranking his guests. Indeed, they were often in on the joke, although it wasn\u2019t until the bloopers were released that the cat was officially out the bag. \u201cI&#8217;ve never been interested in pranking anyone,\u201d Galifianakis said. \u201cI always wanted it to be a joint effort, but I never wanted the audience to think that. Then when we showed the bloopers we kind of gave that up a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Galifianakis added that his guests did not get the questions ahead of time, because \u201cthat takes away the element of surprise, that you need that honest reaction from them.\u201d Obama, Galifianakis confirmed, was the only guest who got the questions ahead of time.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-theme=\"light\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Brad Pitt answers Zach Galifianakis&#8217;s ultimate question about his acting career <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/F1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#F1<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AppleTV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#AppleTV<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SonnyHayes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#SonnyHayes<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/interview?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#interview<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KjsLLhcALI\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/KjsLLhcALI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Funny Or Die (@funnyordie) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/funnyordie\/status\/1945918241005539785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Galifianakis has said that Between Two Ferns started as a way to make fun of \u201cthe sycophantic way that Hollywood machine runs.\u201d In the 2014 episode featuring Brad Pitt, the actor was referred to as both &#8220;Bradley Pitts&#8221; and &#8220;Bart Pit.&#8221; At one point, Galifianakis asked Pitt if his relationship with wife, Angelina Jolie, was anything like Ross and Rachel from Friends.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In 2016, Galifianakis admitted that Between Two Ferns had \u201crun its course a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Photo by Chelsea Lauren\/Variety\/Penske Media via Getty Images.<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis made waves in the twenty-tens for its awkward interviews with celebrities, and clips of its surreal, satirical talk show improv still do the rounds on the internet. The Hangover star would ask the likes of Brad Pitt and even former U.S. president Barack Obama insults dressed up as questions [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-1904843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1904843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1904843"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1904843\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1904843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1904843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1904843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}