Adam Sandler Delivers

Joking, Singing, Playing Music To A Sold Out Crowd

By Gary Simmens

People ask all the time what movie made Adam Sandler famous or discovered to lead to better roles? In 1989 he starred in his first film, “Going Overboard” He was later spotted by Saturday Night Live cast member Dennis Miller who got him an audition and Adam landed a job on the show first as a writer then actor, which lasted from 1990 to 1995. It was there that Sandler created such characters as Cajun Man, Opera Man and Canteen Boy, and other skits and short songs like “The Chanukah Song” and “The Thanksgiving Song ” that made him a household name quickly. One thing is very evident after Friday nights packed house show at the Hard Rock was the fans truly love him for being so diversified and entertaining in different forms. Half the sold out crowd gave him a standing ovation when he first walked out to the stage. The security was extra tight and no pictures were allowed.

“The Sandman”, as he has been called over the years has had an impressive and lucrative career since he was asked to leave along with his pal Chris Farley from Saturday Night Live TV show back in 1995 when the ratings were taking a dip. Sandler has appeared in over 40 films now such classics as :  Billy Madison in 1995,  Happy Gilmore in 1996, ” The Waterboy”, in 1998,  “The Wedding Singer” 1998, the classic remake of the sports-comedy-The Longest Yard, in 2005,  and has diversified to producing films, writing, and has his hands in voiceover’s and several forms of production in the entertainment field, when he is not doing stand up comedy to sold out crowds. In fact, in 1999 he formed his film production company called Happy Madison Productions, Netflix gave him a four movie contract and he has never looked back.  Sandler has two films out now in 2019,”Murder Mystery” and “Uncut Gems”.

Former SNL actor comedian/actor Rob Scheider was a warm up act, and did a nice job  He came out again later to join Sandler in several skits and short comedic songs.  Sandler’s stage was set with 5 of his guitars on stands, a keyboard player who played music for him while he sang his various styles of comedic songs, which he played on the guitar. Sandler is an excellent guitar player and also played one song on the keyboards as he sang to the large audience. He had a flashlight pointing out to the packed crowd picking out randomly different people in the audience and singing a few verses of comedic lines to them, adding value to the tight group that loved his every move. At times, you felt like you were with him in a backyard with a few friends. The audience loved hearing and seeing Sandler with his ability to relate and capture funny moments, along with his trademark Adias striped sweatpants, sneaks and the very relaxed and casual look he had on display all night.

The Sandman gave a great show! He was hitting on all cylinders Friday night. Sandler was on a roll with short comedic songs such as a quick rapper” Phone, Wallet and Keys”, “The OCD Song, “The Massage Song” and others. He also mentioned twice that he would come to visit AC when he was in College in NYC, and take the bus down to AC with his college roommate to gamble and play blackjack, and usually lose, but always had fun.

Sandler’s poor wife, former model-actress, Jacqueline Titone and their two daughters (who all 3 have been in some of his films) were nicely abused comically and referenced to several times with different jokes about home life, things kids do, along with their cuddly dog. At the end of the show, Adam paid tribute to his SNL friend Chris Farley who passed away by singing a song in his honor and showing clips of how funny he was which brought the crowd to a standing ovation again. Sandler actually was invited back very recently to host SNL on May 4th 2019 for the first time as a host to help honor his former cast member Chris Farley.

One thing of note about Adam Sandler is he is so authentic, and has given back generously over the years to charities. He makes time to connect with people, and I love the fact that he took the time to stop before the show this past Friday to play 5 on 5 full court basketball for 45 minutes, (get in a little cardio workout for himself), and hooped it up with kids from Atlantic City, and to give them a moment they will never forget the rest of their lives. (SEE PICTURE).

Upcoming entertainment lineup at the Hard Rock Hotel Casino is: Jersey Boys from June 25 to July 21, Tim McGraw June 28th and 29th, Toby Keith July 5th, and Earth, Wind and Fire on July 6th, 2019.p