Ferrell appears at Emerson in Mass. to christen Ron Burgundy School of Communication – for day

BOSTON – Actor and comedian Will Ferrell told students he was “literally in a glass case of emotion” Wednesday as Emerson College temporarily named its School of Communication after Ron Burgundy, his character in “Anchorman.”

Ferrell appeared as Burgundy, the fictitious television anchorman he plays in the 2004 hit movie as well as its sequel, “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues,” which opens this month.

The renaming was one of several recent promotional events for the movie. Ferrell anchored a newscast as Burgundy in North Dakota over the weekend. Then he helped cover curling trials in Canada.

A spokeswoman said Emerson received no money for the appearance. The idea came from Ferrell’s publicist, an Emerson alum.

Many people had asked why the school would name itself after Burgundy, even for a day, said Phillip Glenn, professor and interim dean of the School of Communication.

“Why indeed?” he said. “Why not?”

Ferrell pretended to cry as he hugged Glenn and Emerson President Lee Pelton.

“To be finally recognized for my work as a journalist is truly extraordinary,” he said. “I can’t believe it’s finally happening.”

He took questions from students and reporters, telling them he gets a lot of news from carrier pigeons and offering hair advice including “use a leave-in conditioner.”

He also offered this recommendation for journalism students: “Keep a $20 bill in your shoe. You never know.”