Inside Ron Howard's Obama Video Endorsement - EXCLUSIVE

Ron Howard starred in what may have been the highlight of all Obama-endorsements this campaign season, a video for Funny or Die (scroll down to watch), but it almost didn't happen.

The video took Howard back to his days on The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days to speak out on behalf of the now-President-Elect, dressed as Opie and Richie Cunningham, alongside his old costars Andy Griffith and Henry Winkler.

At a press event for "Frost/Nixon" the upcoming film he directed (more on it in coming weeks - it's great) Howard told Huffington Post he "didn't really want to do it" and was "cursing" himself for having had the great idea, but added he knew "the best way to be noticed is to humiliate yourself a little bit."

His producing partner Brian Grazer told Huffington Post he was against Howard making the video at first. "I didn't want him to it for a long time," Grazer said, but in the end he loved it. "With all the vicious things that are happening, his was effective in a very cool, effective way."

Here is what they each said about the video in full:

RON HOWARD:

I had the idea and I immediately was like, cursing myself for having gotten the idea, because I didn't really want to do it. I've never publicly endorsed a candidate before, I've supported, I'm political, I care, I've just never done that.

I started asking friends, what do you think of this kooky idea? They all thought, well, that would really cut through the clutter. If you want to do something that would actually get your opinion across, people will watch that. Then I checked with Henry, and maybe even more importantly Andy, and found that they really wanted to try to find a way to do something for Obama.

I felt at that point the best way to be noticed is to humiliate yourself a little bit and create this kind of fantasy endorsement. And I thought it was important that the three of us were on the same page. The Funny or Die people, they said 'we'll support you, we have a little infrastructure to do that, we'll produce it for you.' Adam McKay sort of wrote it up, I pitched it him.

Everybody had an opinion, Henry improvised a couple good lines and Andy and I did ours greenscreened, so we weren't actually together, but it was a good experience.

I think the important thing to do, nose hairs, shirtless, baldhead and all that - was to go at it with zero vanity and be as honest about it as I could be which was, I wouldn't normally do this, but I care a lot.

BRIAN GRAZER:
I thought it was hilarious! I loved it. I didn't want him to it for a long time. I wanted him to support Obama, which he was doing, I just had anxiety about how it would look. Just the execution. Then it turned out the execution was great. It had humility and impact... with all the vicious things that are happening, his was effective in a very cool, effective way.

THE VIDEO:

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

Comments

[PuffDragon]

So touching in concept and sincerely brilliant in the execution of the video. I'm glad I heard about this vid (via the Daily Show), cause I missed it pre-election.

Thank you, Ron and Friends!!

[deevee]

Is it my imagination, or did time and space just warp a little when we got to see Ron as Opie again? (A little for the better, that is)...

[Happyexpat]

I watched it before the election. It was hilarious and offered a much needed break from all the sturm und drang. Thank you Ron, but boy did it make me miss Happy Days!

[SouthPrairie]

Wow! As a 50+ that Opie segment was awesome.

[DogTown]

That was great!

[LeeCalif]

How great was that ?!

[arcoftheancients]

Thank you Ron and all, for caring and "acting" on it. We needed to make a change of course while the moon was void of course all day election day.
Thanks for being brave enough to make the DaVinci Code into a movie, and I look forward to the sequel, just wish you would call me to get some insights I have about Mary Magdalene, she comes to me in dreams and meditations.
When I was 17, I died and asked to come back, I came to with Happy Days on the hospital tv.
So when I saw the clip for Obama, it made complete sense in the connected way this "involution" is taking place.
Rock On

[michie62]

I, too, forgive you for The Davinci Code after this great video. I saw it before the election and watching it again today. Thank you for bringing "Pa" *(Andy Griffith) and "the Fonz" (Henry Winkler) out on video. How cool.

[shedances]

Ron Howard never disappoints. He really is a cut above just about all Hollywood directors.

[wattsi2ya]

Brian Grazer was worried how Ron Howard will look.....hey Brian, look in the mirror and fire your hair stylist
HOLY CRAP!

[OwenTupper]

I was blown away by the video. So glad Ron didn't back away from the idea. Well done!

[TommyJohn]

Ron, ya get uglier everyday.

[WRPrintz]

We all do....but some started at a better looking point than others.

[tlgeiger62]

I knew when I first saw the video that it was something of a leap for Ron Howard who has always said he would not reprise either role EVER. When I saw him do it for Obama, I knew how important it was to him. Thank you gentlemen! It was a great gesture of support.

[julieknous]

I met Ron Howard at the Iowa Caucus. Nice guy

[Baracker73]

Hey Ron, I was born in '73 and I grew up watching "Happy Days" and reruns of "The Andy Griffith Show" in my sleepy little North Carolina town (Fremont, think Mayberry). The feeling I got watching your short film was akin to being awakened after a long nightmare. America has been heading down the wrong path for many years now, politically, culturally, economically, the list goes on and on. There was a special feeling that surrounded the two tv productions you are most associated with, a sense of morality and joy that is definitely non-partisan, although many conservatives have spent many years demonizing those of us on the left as morally flawed or even "Godless". You have had a good strong career as a director and you need not worry ever again that you will be only be remembered as Opie or Richie, but it was truly brave of you to speak out on behalf of change and now I feel you may be most remembered as a true American hero. Thanks for doing your part to help unify this great country. Two thumbs up and an "AAAAAAAY!!!"