Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy Co-Anchors Newscast in North Dakota (Video)

The actor's latest marketing stunt for "Anchorman 2" occurred on a live local broadcast.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Television viewers in Bismarck, N.D., were treated to some real class this weekend when none other than the great Ron Burgundy read them the news.

Actor and comedian Will Ferrell reprised his Anchorman role for KXMB's Saturday night news broadcast. The former "Saturday Night Live" star is promoting its upcoming sequel, Anchorman 2.

Ferrell read stories while engaging in some witty banter with the news team. He also clowned around, popping into anchor Amber Schatz's screen while she read a story and noting after the sports segment, "I've never seen fighting in a hockey match before. That was fascinating."

The online video of the 30-minute newscast, which is making the rounds on social media, is part of a widespread marketing campaign for the movie sequel that has included Dodge Durango commercials, a new Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor named "Scotchy Scotch Scotch," and Burgundy's own exhibit at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

On Sunday, Ferrell headed to Winnipeg, where he was slated to help cover Canada's Olympic curling trials for broadcaster TSN.

KXMB is one of two CBS-affiliated television stations serving central and western North Dakota. The Bismarck station shares programing with Minot's KXMC, but the two stations produce separate newscasts.

KXMB station managers couldn't be reached for comment Sunday, and it was unclear if Ferrell's appearance was impromptu or part of the movie's publicity campaign. Viewers were not given advance notice.

The team expected Ferrell to end with his "Stay classy" catchphrase, but he missed the cue, saying: "What? Am I supposed to read that?"

KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson