Frat Pack
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The '''"Frat Pack"''' is a 1990s-2000s era nickname given to a group of male [[Hollywood]] comedy actors who have appeared together in many of the highest grossing comedy movies since the late 1990s, including [[Ben Stiller]], [[Jack Black]], [[Will Ferrell]], [[Vince Vaughn]], [[Owen Wilson]], [[Luke Wilson]], and [[Steve Carell]]. It was coined by ''[[USA Today]]'' in a story from June 2004.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-06-15-frat-pack_x.htm USATODAY.com - Wilson and Vaughn: Leaders of the 'Frat Pack'<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Before ''[[USA Today]]'' dubbed this group the ''Frat Pack'', ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' referred to them as the "Slacker Pack," but this term is rarely used. Meanwhile, ''EW'' had earlier used the term ''Frat Pack'' to describe [[Leonardo DiCaprio]], [[Matt Damon]], [[Ben Affleck]], [[Edward Norton]], and [[Ryan Phillippe]], but this usage has not been seen elsewhere. Since then, EW has dropped the "Slacker Pack" term, and also began referring to the group as the Frat Pack {{harv|Susman|2005}}. The name is a take-off of the [[Rat Pack]], a nickname given to a group of entertainers in the 1950s and 1960s combined with the shorthand term for a college [[Fraternities and sororities|fraternity]], a reference to the group's popular film, ''[[Old School (film)|Old School]].'' In December 2007, Italian cinema magazine [[Nocturno]] published the first 70 pages dossier completely dedicated to the Frat Pack phenomenon.
== The Pack ==
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The ''USA Today'' article which coined the ''Frat Pack'' term listed '''[[Jack Black (actor)|Jack Black]]''', '''[[Will Ferrell]]''', '''[[Ben Stiller]]''', '''[[Vince Vaughn]]''', and brothers '''[[Owen Wilson]]''' and '''[[Luke Wilson]]''' as members of the group. By 2006, '''[[Steve Carell]]''' was also included in the Pack when USA Today published another article. Carell claimed membership when hosting ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. Though he did not use the term "Frat Pack," he did say he was "one of those guys now" and specifically referenced Stiller, Vaughn, Ferrell, Owen Wilson, and Black.
A year before citing Carell as a member, USA Today tagged him, in addition to [[Judd Apatow]], [[Paul Rudd]], [[David Koechner]], [[Mindy Kaling]], [[Nancy Walls]] and [[Leslie Mann]] as the Frat Pack's "Junior Varsity." <ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-08-11-steve-carell_x.htm?POE=LIFISVA USATODAY.com - Carell just wants some love<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Kaling and Walls haven't been as associated with the group elsewhere, but Details Magazine has cited Apatow (in addition to directors McKay and Phillips) as "The Frat Packagers",<ref>[http://men.style.com/details/features/full?id=content_4990&pageNum=6 The Power 50: DETAILS Article on men.style.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> while Paul Rudd was cited as a Frat Pack member in the New York Post, among other publications.<ref>[http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/63050.htm]{{Dead link|date=March 2008}}</ref> In an interview with [[The Advocate]], when questioned if ''[[Knocked Up]]'' will officially welcome him into the Frat Pack, Rudd speculated that he is a "pledge" that hasn't "been initiated yet into the brotherhood." <ref>[http://www.advocate.com/currentstory1_w.asp?id=41424 Issue Number 980 | Big gay following: Paul Rudd | Advocate.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The members of the Frat Pack often work with certain directors multiple times. [[Wes Anderson]] is a college friend of the Wilsons and directed them in both ''[[Bottle Rocket]]'' and ''[[The Royal Tenenbaums]]'' (which also starred Stiller) while [[Todd Phillips]] directed both ''[[Old School (film)|Old School]]'' and ''[[Starsky & Hutch]]''. [[Adam McKay]] directed ''[[Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy]]'', and ''[[Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby]]''. Judd Apatow is the writer/producer of several Frat Pack comedies including ''[[Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy]]''. He made his directorial debut with ''[[The 40-Year-Old Virgin]]'' starring Steve Carell, and followed up with ''[[Knocked Up]]'' starring [[Seth Rogen]] and Paul Rudd, with a cameo by Carell. Apatow was also a cocreator of ''[[The Ben Stiller Show]]''. ''[[Wedding Crashers]]'' director [[David Dobkin (director)|David Dobkin]] worked again with Vince Vaughn for the Christmas comedy ''[[Fred Claus]]'' (2007). Subsequently, [[John C. Reilly]] who co-starred with Will Ferrell and director [[Adam McKay]] in ''[[Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby]]'' (2006), will reunite for the comedy ''[[Step Brothers]]'' and is the star of ''[[Walk Hard]]'' which has several appearances by actors either in the Frat Pack or have worked with them repeatedly. Reilly also sang at the [[2007 Academy Awards]] with Will Ferrell and Jack Black.
== Filmography ==
Although all Frat Pack members have never appeared in a single movie together, they have come closest in ''[[Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy]]'', which featured all but Owen Wilson (chiefly in minor roles and cameos).
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Movie !! [[Jack Black (actor)|Jack Black]] !! [[Ben Stiller]] !! [[Luke Wilson]] !! [[Owen Wilson]] !! [[Vince Vaughn]] !! [[Will Ferrell]] !! [[Steve Carell]] !! Close contributors
|-
|''[[Bottle Rocket]]'' (1996)
|
|
|Lead role
|Lead role, writer
|
|
|
|Wes Anderson (director)
|-
|''[[The Cable Guy]]'' (1996)
|Supporting cast
|Minor role, director
|
|Minor role
|
|
|
|Andy Dick, Leslie Mann, Kyle Gass, Judd Apatow (producer)
|-
|''[[Bongwater (film)|Bongwater]]'' (1997)
|Supporting cast
|
|Lead role
|
|
|
|
|Andy Dick, Kyle Gass
|-
|''[[Permanent Midnight]]'' (1998)
|
|Lead role
|
|Supporting cast
|
|
|
|Andy Dick
|-
|''[[Heat Vision and Jack]]'' (unaired pilot) (1999)
|Lead role
|Director, minor role
|
|Lead role, voice
|
|
|
|Christine Taylor
|-
|''[[Rushmore]]'' (1999)
|
|
|Supporting Cast
|Writer
|
|
|
|
|- Wes Anderson
|''[[The Suburbans]]'' (1999)
|
|Supporting cast
|
|
|
|Supporting cast
|
|
|-
|''[[Meet the Parents]]'' (2000)
|
|Lead role
|
|Supporting cast
|
|
|
|
|-
|''[[The Royal Tenenbaums]]'' (2001)
|
|Lead role
|Lead role
|Lead role, writer
|
|
|
|Wes Anderson (director)
|-
|''[[Zoolander]]'' (2001)
|
|Lead role, director, writer, producer
|
|Lead role
|Minor role
|Lead role
|
|Christine Taylor, Andy Dick
|-
|''[[Orange County (film)|Orange County]]'' (2002)
|Lead role
|Minor role
|
|
|
|
|
|Leslie Mann
|-
|''[[Run Ronnie Run]]'' (2002)
|Minor role
|Minor role
|
|
|
|
|
|David Koechner
|-
|''[[Old School (film)|Old School]]'' (2003)
|
|
|Lead role
|
|Lead role
|Lead role
|
|Andy Dick
|-
|''[[Starsky & Hutch (film)|Starsky & Hutch]]'' (2004)
|
|Lead role
|
|Lead role
|Lead role
|Supporting cast
|
|Jason Bateman
|-
|''[[Envy (film)|Envy]]'' (2004)
|Lead role
|Lead role
|
|
|
|
|
|Amy Poehler, Christopher Walken
|-
|''[[Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story]]'' (2004)
|
|Lead role, producer
|
|
|Lead role
|
|
|Justin Long, Christine Taylor, Jason Bateman
|-
|''[[Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy]]'' (2004)
|Minor role
|Minor role
|Minor role
|
|Supporting role
|Lead role
|Lead role
|Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Seth Rogen
|-
|''[[Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie]]'' (2004)
|
|
|Minor role
|
|Supporting cast
|Lead role
|Lead role
|Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Seth Rogen, Justin Long, Amy Poehler
|-
|''[[Meet the Fockers]]'' (2004)
|
|Lead role
|
|Minor role
|
|
|
|
|-
|''[[Melinda and Melinda]]'' (2004)
|
|
|
|
|
|Lead role
|Supporting cast
|
|-
|''[[Bewitched (film)|Bewitched]]'' (2005)
|
|
|
|
|
|Lead role
|Supporting cast
|
|-
|''[[Wedding Crashers]]'' (2005)
|
|
|
|Lead role
|Lead role
|Minor role
|
|Christopher Walken
|-
|''[[The Wendell Baker Story]]'' (2005)
|
|
|Lead role, director, writer
|Supporting cast
|
|Supporting cast
|
|
|-
|''[[Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny]]'' (2006)
|Lead role, writer, songs
|Minor role, producer
|
|
|
|
|
|Kyle Gass, David Koechner (deleted scene/DVD), Amy Poehler
|-
|''[[Night at the Museum]]'' (2006)
|
|Lead role
|
|Supporting cast
|
|
|
|Paul Rudd
|-
|''[[Blades of Glory (film)|Blades of Glory]]'' (2007)
|
|Producer
|Minor role
|
|
|Lead role
|
|Amy Poehler
|-
|''[[Knocked Up]]'' (2007)
|
|
|
|Minor role (DVD deleted scene)
|
|
|Minor role
|Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Andy Dick
|-
|''[[Tropic Thunder]]'' (2008)
|Lead role
|Lead role, producer, director
|
|Dropped out (originally minor role)
|
|
|
|
|-
|''[[The Year One]]'' (2009)
|Lead role
|
|
|Producer
|
|
|
|
|-
|''[[Night at the Museum 2: Escape from the Smithsonian]]'' (2009)
|
|Lead role
|
|Supporting cast
|
|
|
|
|-
! Movie !! [[Jack Black (actor)|Jack Black]] !! [[Ben Stiller]] !! [[Luke Wilson]] !! [[Owen Wilson]] !! [[Vince Vaughn]] !! [[Will Ferrell]] !! [[Steve Carell]] !! Close contributors
|-
|}
===Other films===
Comedy '''films''' that involve only one primary Frat Packer, among other close contributors, with at least one of these in a large role include:
*''[[School of Rock]]'' (2004)
*''[[The 40-Year-Old Virgin]]'' (2005)
*''[[The Break-Up]]'' (2006)
*''[[Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby]]'' (2006)
*''[[You, Me and Dupree]]'' (2006)
*''[[Idiocracy]]'' (2006)
*''[[Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story]]'' (2007)
*''[[Blonde Ambition]]'' (2007)
*''[[Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland|Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland]]'' (2008)
*''[[Drillbit Taylor]]'' (2008)
*''[[Semi-Pro]]'' (2008)
*''[[Kung Fu Panda]]'' (2008)
*''[[Get Smart (film)|Get Smart]]'' (2008)
*''[[Step Brothers (film)|Step Brothers]]'' (2008)
*''[[Tenure (film)|Tenure]]'' (2009)
==Awards, nominations and other information==
{{Trivia|date=June 2008}}
*[[Ben Stiller]] is the only member ever to win an [[Emmy]].
*[[Owen Wilson]] is the only member to be nominated for an [[Academy Award]].
*[[Steve Carell]] is the only member to ever win a [[Golden Globe]], [[Screen Actors Guild Award]] or [[Writers Guild of America Awards 2006|Writers Guild Award]].
*All members have been presenters at the [[Academy Awards]].
*Except for [[Owen Wilson]], all members have hosted ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.
*[[Jack Black]] is the only member to be a musical guest on ''Saturday Night Live'' (as part of [[Tenacious D]]).
*[[Will Ferrell]], [[Ben Stiller]] and [[David Koechner]] have all been cast members on ''Saturday Night Live''.
*[[Will Ferrell]], [[Jack Black]], [[Steve Carell]] and [[Paul Rudd]] have all appeared on [[David Koechner]]'s ''[[Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show]]''.
*Only [[Will Ferrell]] ([[Delta Tau Delta]]) held membership in a real college fraternity.
==See also==
* [[Rat Pack]]
* [[Brat Pack (movies)|Brat Pack]]
* [[Splat Pack]]
* [[Typecasting (acting)|Typecasting]]
* [[Heat Vision and Jack]] - a failed Frat Pack pilot starring Jack Black and Owen Wilson, directed by Ben Stiller.
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,611646_1%7C7045%7C%7C0_0_,00.html Comedy's funniest serial sidekicks] from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. (The first article written about the group.)
* [http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-06-15-frat-pack_x.htm Wilson and Vaughn: Leaders of the 'Frat Pack'] from ''[[USA Today]]'' (The second article written about the group, and the first to refer to them as the Frat Pack.)
* [http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-06-16-fratpackchart.htm These guys would be great to hang out with] from ''USA Today'', featuring a circa-2004 chart detailing the movies that each Frat Packer has been involved in.
* [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8500264/ Frat Packers just get better] from ''[[MSNBC]]''
* [http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0709/p11s01-almo.html Unlikely heroes of the box office: The Frat Pack] from the ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]''
* [http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/63050.htm Frat Pack back on track this summer] from the ''[[New York Post]]''
* [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,14931-2257252,00.html Profile] in [[The Times]]
* [http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-07-12-fratpack-chart_x.htm Frat Pack persona: Archetype casting] from ''[[USA Today]]'''s second Frat Pack article.
* [http://allyburguieres.com/wp/?p=34/url/ Metalanguage, Comedy, and the 'Frat Pack' as Community of Practice: What does that even mean?], a graduate-level paper detailing the use of common language in five Frat Pack films.
* [http://www.the-frat-pack.com/ The Frat Pack Tribute], a website detailing recent information and news about the Frat Pack
* [http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/feature/49433 Boys' Own Stories] from ''[[Sight and Sound]]'' magazine, tracing the history of the Frat Pack
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