Although the real news media hasn't always been kind to Rob Ford, the Toronto mayor apparently has fictional news anchor Ron Burgundy in his corner.
Comic actor Will Ferrell showed up in character as Burgundy on last night's edition of Conan. While Ferrell/Burgundy was there to promote the Dec. 20 release of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, he found time to belt out a song in support of the embattled mayor.
"He's asked me to sing the campaign theme song for his election," Burgundy said.
Conan O'Brien objected: "But he's a controversial figure!"
Barked Burgundy: "He's controversial because he's so damn honest!"
The vainglorious Burgundy insisted he was honoured by Ford's apparent request to sing a song. "I'm just so thrilled. He's the best."
And then Burgundy took the microphone to perform a song originally performed by a seminal eighties Canadian group. "One of his favourite bands, from Calgary, Loverboy."
At which point Burgundy began the familiar opening refrain from Loverboy's 1981 hit Working for the Weekend.
During breaks in the song, Burgundy shouted out, "Looking at you, Rob!" and, "Don't do anything stupid, Rob!"
And of course, Burgundy performed a jazz-flute solo, which left him winded and wheezy.
The Conan studio audience loved the performance, and apparently so did Ford himself. In his first tweet in four days, the mayor issued the following comment on early Thursday morning:
"Good morning Toronto. I had to laugh at my friend Ron Burgundy & his take on my 2014 re-election campaign song."
And while a vote of support from a fictional movie character may not sound like much, don't dismiss the clout of Ron Burgundy.
Keep in mind that Boston's prestigious Emerson College has agreed to rename the school The Ron Burgundy School of Communication on Dec. 4 (for one day only).