Helena Frye
In 2008, Will Ferrell starred in the sports comedy film 'Semi-Pro', which was filmed in Flint, Michigan. The film is about a fictional American Basketball Association team called the Flint Tropics, with Ferrell playing Jackie Moon, a one-hit-wonder singer who owns, coaches, and plays on the team. The film received generally negative reviews, but Ferrell's performance was praised, and he even reprised his role in 2022 to warm up with the Golden State Warriors before a game.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film Name | Semi-Pro |
| Genre | Comedy, Sport |
| Year | 2008 |
| Will Ferrell's Role | Jackie Moon |
| Jackie Moon's Role | Owner, Coach, Player, and Pregame Announcer |
| Basketball Team | Flint Tropics |
| Location | Flint, Michigan |
| Song | "Love Me Sexy" |
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What You'll Learn
Will Ferrell reprises his role as Jackie Moon from Semi-Pro
In 2022, Will Ferrell reprised his role as Jackie Moon from the 2008 basketball comedy Semi-Pro. Ferrell, dressed in character, took part in warm-ups with the Golden State Warriors before their game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The actor wore the full fictional Flint Tropics uniform, including knee pads, wristbands, and a headband. Ferrell's appearance came as the Warriors were in the midst of a five-game losing streak, and his energy may have contributed to their 112-97 win over the Clippers, which snapped the skid.
In Semi-Pro, Ferrell's character, Jackie Moon, is the owner, player, and coach of the Flint Tropics, a failing American Basketball Association team. The film is set during the final season of the ABA and tells the story of the team's struggle to survive the league's merger with the NBA. Shot in Los Angeles, Detroit, and Flint, Michigan, the film received generally negative reviews from critics, who criticized the script. However, Ferrell's performance was praised, and he even appeared in character as Jackie Moon in TV spots for Old Spice deodorant.
In one memorable scene from Semi-Pro, Ferrell's character wrestles a 7-foot-tall, 700-pound male grizzly bear named Rocky to promote his basketball team. Unfortunately, the bear killed one of its trainers, Stephan Miller, a cousin of Ferrell's stunt double, in 2008. Despite the negative reviews, Semi-Pro had a successful marketing campaign, with Ferrell appearing in character during Super Bowl ads and even releasing a music video for the fictional hit song "Love Me Sexy," written and performed by Ferrell as Jackie Moon.
Ferrell's decision to reprise his role as Jackie Moon in 2022 may have been influenced by Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson, a self-proclaimed huge fan of the movie. Thompson dressed up as Jackie Moon for the Warriors' Halloween game in 2018 and was seen interacting with Ferrell during warm-ups. The actor's unexpected appearance delighted fans and added a touch of comedy to the basketball world.
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The Flint Tropics basketball team is fictional
In the film, Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, a singer who uses the profits from his one-hit wonder, "Love Me Sexy", to buy the Tropics, becoming the owner, head coach, and starting power forward. The team is based in Flint, Michigan, and Moon rallies his teammates to make their NBA dreams come true. The film received generally negative reviews from critics, who criticized the script, but Ferrell's performance was praised.
Ferrell and his co-stars Woody Harrelson and Andre Benjamin spent time in Flint, Michigan, during filming. They shot scenes at the Michigan State Fairgrounds and in an alley next to Flint's Capitol Theatre. Ferrell recalled that he noticed "boarded-up buildings that looked like they had once been very beautiful," but also saw the reconstruction efforts downtown, where many of his Flint scenes were shot.
In 2022, Ferrell dressed up as his Semi-Pro character, Jackie Moon, while taking part in warm-ups with the NBA's Golden State Warriors before a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Ferrell stayed committed to the bit, dressing in the full fictional Flint Tropics uniform, complete with knee pads, wristbands, and a headband. His appearance was a nice way to shake things up for the team, and he even showed star player Steph Curry how to shoot free throws.
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The film was shot in Los Angeles, Detroit, and Flint, Michigan
The 2008 sports comedy film Semi-Pro, starring Will Ferrell, was shot in Los Angeles, Detroit, and Flint, Michigan. The film is set during the final season of the American Basketball Association and tells the story of a fictional ABA team, the Flint Tropics, desperate to survive the league's merger with the NBA.
The film was shot near Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, specifically in the gym of the Los Angeles City Fire Department Training Center. Production also took place in Flint, Michigan, where the film's story is set and where the team, the Flint Tropics, is based. The film crew also shot scenes in Detroit, another city in Michigan.
The choice of filming locations may have been influenced by the story's setting and the desire to capture authentic backgrounds and environments for the film. Shooting in Los Angeles is also common for many films due to the presence of major film studios and production facilities in the area.
Semi-Pro received generally negative reviews from critics, who criticized the script. However, Ferrell's performance received praise for his portrayal of the eccentric team owner and player, Jackie Moon. The film grossed $43,884,904 worldwide, with a production budget of $55 million.
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Ferrell's character wrestles a grizzly bear
In the 2008 comedy-sport film "Semi-Pro", Will Ferrell's character, Jackie Moon, owner, coach, and player of the fictional basketball team Flint Tropics, wrestles a grizzly bear named Rocky. The scene was filmed to promote his basketball team in the movie. The bear was 5 years old, 7 feet tall, and weighed 700 pounds.
The grizzly bear that wrestled Ferrell's character was reported to have obediently followed cues, which made its subsequent killing of its trainer, Stephan Miller, all the more shocking. Miller was the cousin of the training center owner and stuntman, Randy Miller, who doubled for Ferrell in the bear wrestling match. Randy Miller had previously won a World Stunt Academy Award for his work wrestling tigers in the 2000 blockbuster "Gladiator".
The incident occurred at the Predators in Action wild animal training center, which was located in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles. The center had two grizzlies and also trained other wild animals such as lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, and wolves for film, television, advertising, and educational purposes. Despite the center's perfect safety record, the bear attacked and killed Stephan Miller with a bite to the neck.
Three experienced handlers were working with the grizzly bear at the time of the incident, and pepper spray was used to subdue and contain the animal. Paramedics were unable to revive Stephan Miller, and the bear was not euthanized as the attack occurred outside the jurisdiction of the Department of Fish and Game. The tragic incident highlighted the inherent risks of working with wild animals, even with extensive training and safety precautions in place.
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The film received generally negative reviews
Will Ferrell's 2008 basketball comedy "Semi-Pro" received generally negative reviews from critics. The film, directed by Kent Alterman, is set in the 1970s and tells the story of Jackie Moon, a singer who buys a basketball team in the American Basketball Association (ABA), the Flint Tropics.
Ferrell's performance as the eccentric owner-player-coach of the fictional team received praise, but critics were less than impressed with the script. One review on IMDb noted that while the film was funny in parts, the excessive profanity was a downside, especially when compared to past Will Ferrell movies.
The film was shot in various locations, including Los Angeles, Detroit, and Flint, Michigan. The exterior shots of the Michigan State Fairgrounds and the alley next to Flint's Capitol Theatre feature prominently in the film. The film also includes a scene with a 700-pound grizzly bear named Rocky, who tragically killed one of his trainers, Stephan Miller, a cousin of Will Ferrell's stunt double, in 2008.
Despite the negative reviews, "Semi-Pro" has its fans, as evidenced by Ferrell's 2022 appearance at a Golden State Warriors game, where he dressed up as his character, Jackie Moon, to warm up with the team.
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Frequently asked questions
Will Ferrell portrays Jackie Moon in the 2008 comedy "Semi-Pro".
The film is set during the final season of the American Basketball Association and tells the story of a fictional ABA team, the Flint Tropics, desperate to survive the league's merger with the NBA. Jackie Moon, a singer famous for the disco hit "Love Me Sexy", is the owner, head coach, and player of the Tropics.
The film was shot in Los Angeles, Detroit, and Flint, Michigan.
The film received generally negative reviews, with criticism directed at the script. However, Ferrell's performance was praised.
