Adam Sandler presented one of the most Unforgettable moments from the Palm Springs International Film Awards Galaturning a heartfelt honor into a full-blown comedy during the acceptance of the Chairman's Award.
Presented by his “Jay Kelly» co-star Laura DernSandler took the stage and quickly launched into a wildly funny alternate history monologue, imagining what his life might have looked like if his acting career had stalled after college.
“When I graduated from college, I got my BFA, and my dad told me he was very proud of me and that I should try it out for one year,” Sandler recalls. “He said, 'See if you can do something. If in a year nothing works out, you will come to work for me.” My father was an electrical contractor. I didn’t know much about electricity or contracts.”
Sandler then played out a fictional future where the movie set used fuse boxes instead, and joked that he would still be married to his wife Jackie, but would live in a much smaller house with “about 10 fewer bathrooms and a few fewer statues of me.”
He added that he “probably knows how to charge his phone” and would still get stopped on the street. “Not because of the fame factor, but because they had never seen anyone with such severe scoliosis.”
Things escalated when Sandler brought his longtime friend Rob Schneider into the fantasy, joking that Schneider would “work with me on every electrical project I've ever had to do.”
Amid the laughter, Sandler repeatedly returned to gratitude, crediting the unlikely success that followed that crucial first year out of college. “I’ve been playing for a long time,” he said. “I can’t thank you all enough for allowing me to have this career that I’ve been blessed to have.”
He singled out “Jay Kelly” as his recent creative success, praising the cast and director Noah Baumbach for pushing him to create some of his best work.
“I didn't want to let him down. I didn't want to let any of my co-stars down. I didn't want to let my family down. I didn't want to let myself down,” Sandler said sincerely. “So I always try my best.”
The speech ended on a characteristically heartfelt note, with Sandler thanking his wife — “my forever girlfriend” — and promising the audience that he wasn't done yet.
“Thank you guys for letting me make all these movies over the years. I'll try to do more.”
The Palm Springs International Film Awards Gala, held annually during the Palm Springs International Film Festival, has become a key stop in the awards season. Sandler is currently nominated for a Critics' Choice Award and a Golden Globe for his role in Baumbach's film.
