Will Ferrell wants to work with up-and-coming comedians on social media — who will get a chance to mentor under some big-name podcasters and be featured across iHeartMedia‘s audio outlets.

Ferrell and iHeartMedia’s Big Money Players Podcast Network (BMP) announced the “Big Money Players Circle.” Ferrell has hand-picked “the coolest and funniest social sensations to join the BMP network and be showcased across iHeartMedia’s multiplatform ecosystem,” according to the announcement. The flagship show for the Big Money Players Network, formed in 2019, is “The Ron Burgundy Podcast,” featuring the comedian and actor’s “Anchorman” persona.

Comedians picked to participate in the Big Money Players Circle will “receive invaluable training from some of the biggest names in comedy and podcasting, unparalleled exposure to new audiences and opportunities to work with top-tier brands to develop unique ad-focused comedic content,” according to iHeartMedia. The first project for BMP Circle members will be creating branded content for presenting sponsor Straight Talk Wireless, one of Verizon’s prepaid mobile brands.

The Big Money Players Circle will be officially announced during the first “Big Money Players Comedy Takeover Hour Presented by Straight Talk Wireless,” which will be broadcast across iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. local time. The comedy takeover will be introduced by Ferrell and feature Ellie Kemper (host of BMP’s “Born to Love”) alongside Nikki Glaser, Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, and Vanessa Bayer. The show will be hosted by Bobby Bones, Mario Lopez, and Tanya Rad and EJ.

“From the time I was a wee baby boy, in fact before I ever uttered my first words, I have always dreamt of assembling a team of comedians as funny and talented as the Big Money Players Circle,” Ferrell said in a statement. “Now, to officially announce the Circle over the radio waves — which mankind has used to announce such momentous occasions as the first man landing on the moon, Dan Quayle’s VP nomination, and the score of last night’s LAFC game — is a dream bigger than Baby Will could have ever dreamt.”

The launch comes ahead of the “Big Money Players Circle Live With Straight Talk Wireless” showcase set to take place Nov. 12 during the 2023 New York Comedy Festival at New York City’s Hard Rock Hotel. BMP Circle inductees will be featured alongside the podcast network’s top hosts during the event.

“The Big Money Players Circle is the latest extension of the brand — from podcasting into social media — where we’re excited to support and grow a whole new wave of next-generation talent as well,” said Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group.

Big Money Players Network, in addition to “The Ron Burgundy Podcast,” includes shows such as “Films to Be Buried With” with Brett Goldstein, “Las Culturistas With Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang,” “The Nikki Glaser Podcast,” “Poog” with Kate Berlant and Jacqueline Novak, and “StraightioLab,” hosted by George Civeris and Sam Taggart.

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