Staying classy, Anchorman's Will Ferrell and Adam McKay paid Christina Applegate from own salaries

Appearing on The View yesterday (via Variety), Applegate explained that the initial offer for the role was “a little offensive.” She turned it down because, “I know my worth, and I can’t do that.” But McKay and Ferrell knew that if they wanted to play jazz flute and not eat cat poop, they were going to have to reach into their pockets, cut the chimp-filled plane crash, and pay her from their own checks. “They wanted me bad enough,” she continues, “and they said, ‘Well, we’re gonna chip in.’ Thank God they did because it was one of the best experiences of my entire life.”

Anchorman has such a unique alchemy, one that couldn’t quite be replicated by its 2013 sequel, even with Applegate returning. But at least we have an answer to the eternal question: “If I would give you some money out of my wallet, would that ease the pain?” Money: 90% of the time, it works every time.