Comedy history was made with the 2004 movie Anchorman, which featured a stellar cast that includes comedy greats like Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Kathryn Hahn, and Ben Stiller, to name a few. The laugh-out-loud raunchy comedy naturally led to a sequel and helped further propel these performers to the top of the comedy pile. Years later, Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd reunited, but not in the way you’d expect. In 2021, they joined forces in a literal ripped-from-the-headlines series, The Shrink Next Door.

Based on the real-life story of psychologist Isaac Herschkopf, the series brought Ferrell and Rudd together for a dark comedy thriller that explored the depths of human relationships in an utterly bizarre way. Rudd plays Herschkopf, the man who inserts himself into the life of Marty Markowitz (Ferrell), who goes beyond the scope of doctor-patient formalities. The 8-episode series works with both men in these roles because, rather than bogging the story down in darkness, they managed to tap into their innate comedic skills to find moments of light and humor that brought authenticity to the psychological thriller.

Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd’s ‘The Shrink Next Door’ Is Based on a Bizarre Real-Life Case

Based on the brilliant Wondery podcast by Joe Nocera, The Shrink Next Door tells the story of Dr. Ike’s co-dependent relationship with Marty, a man overwhelmed by responsibilities, grieving the loss of his parents, and dealing with turmoil in his own family. But as the therapy sessions roll on, Dr. Ike oversteps his role, beginning to exert control over Marty’s life far beyond the scope of professionalism. It’s ultimately revealed that Marty alleged that Ike took control of his finances, moved into and pretended to own his home at Hampton’s, and orchestrated the estrangement from his own family. The Shrink Next Door became a cautionary tale that illuminated the dangers of abusive and manipulative professional relationships.

The True Crime Series Brings Out Different Sides of Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell

The basis of The Shrink Next Door was the importance of the show’s key relationship. It was the journey of a therapist-turned-friend. In order for that relationship to feel genuine, you couldn’t have just any two actors. You needed two individuals who truly reflected the friendship, as twisted as it might be. Having already established a brilliant working relationship on Anchorman, Ferrell and Rudd’s connection in the series was old hat.

The main draw into this creepy true-crime thriller was watching the slow manipulation of an adult man by a sinister individual. Perhaps the best scene that depicted this, showcasing one of the pair’s best early moments, was the Bar Mitzvah in Episode 2. Ike convinced Marty, who is 40, to have a second Bar Mitzvah in order to relive his childhood disappointment and change it into something positive. Rather than just being the ideator, Ike takes over the planning, catering, and guest list, which features mostly Ike’s friends. Keep in mind, Marty is paying for all of it. As Ferrell is being hoisted up in the chair as the Bar Mitzvah boy, you can see the utter fear in his eyes while Rudd’s Ike is living vicariously through him. Emotional manipulation is real, and even with some joy attached, it’s a haunting scene. It strays away from Rudd and Ferrell’s typical on-screen bond yet defines their growth as actors and a dynamic duo.

It shouldn’t be surprising that both actors had an incredible dynamic together that evolved into a twisted, uncouth best friendship. During a joint press interview with the New York Times to promote the series, Ferrell acknowledged the thrilling fear of having to play emotional, confrontational scenes with his friend. Rudd explained, “Are people just going to hate this because it’s not what they want to see us doing?”

‘The Shrink Next Door’s Comedic Cast Elevated the Dark Material

Though both actors primarily played together in the series, they also had side scenes with two other comedians who proved drama was in their blood: Casey Wilson as Bonnie Herschkopf, Ike’s wife, and Kathryn Hahn as Phyllis Shapiro, Marty’s sister. Having a quartet of comedians tackle the dense material, series creator Georgia Pritchett found ways to ensure audiences weren’t bogged down by the story’s weight. Instead, the well-rounded performances lifted the story to the point of being stranger than fiction.

The Shrink Next Door is a sharp series with a story that came to life through two extraordinary actors. Ferrell and Rudd shed Ron Burgundy and Brian Fantana to transform into Marty Markowitz and Ike Herschkopf. The miniseries lifted the source material effortlessly thanks to the range both actors infused into the story. For a story about a twisted relationship, having two actors with a solid friendship elevated the material to make it authentic. Even if you were afraid of their take on dramatics, their stellar performances quickly set it aside. It may have been an unexpected project for the team-up, but it was worth every minute.