HBO to air Will Ferrell's 'Bush' show

HBO will air a live telecast in the spring of Will Ferrell's Broadway show "You're Welcome America. A Final Night With George W. Bush."
The cable net's special will be directed by Marty Callner, who also has helmed HBO comedy segs starring Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams and George Carlin. Exec producers are Callner for Funny Business as well as Ferrell, Adam McKay and Jessica Elbaum for Gary Sanchez Prods.

HBO is now a producing partner of the stage show itself, joining a team that includes Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel and Steve Traxler, who count plays "August: Osage County" and "Speed-the-Plow" among their Rialto credits.

An exact date for the HBO airing has not been confirmed, although it seems likely it would come toward the end of the run of "You're Welcome America" to prevent the telecast from cannibalizing ticket sales for the Broadway engagement. Limited Rialto stint is slated to end March 15.

Politically themed comedy "You're Welcome America," structured as a parting address from outgoing President Bush, will be Ferrell's first solo special for HBO.

Stage production is helmed by McKay, the writer-director with whom Ferrell has collaborated on pics including "Step Brothers," "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" and "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby."
Ferrell and McKay also are exec producers of HBO skein "Eastbound and Down," bowing Feb. 15.

"Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America. A Final Night With George W Bush" begins previews at the Cort Theater on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, ahead of a Feb. 5 opening.