Comedian and actor Adam Sandler is already bringing back Happy Gilmore. Could Bobby Boucher be far behind?
Sandler is set to be the special celebrity guest on tonight’s season debut for the ESPN 2 “Manningcast,” hosted by Peyton and Eli Manning, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Manning’s Omaha Productions put together a preview, featuring his character from the film:
Sandler, who also turns 58 on Monday, previously played football prodigy Bobby Boucher Jr. in the 1998 comedy The Waterboy. He is also a die-hard New York Jets fan, and will watch his team take on the San Francisco 49ers a year after quarterback Aaron Rodgers exited the game against the Bills early with a torn achilles.
The comedian and actor is also promoting his new Netflix comedy special Love You.
Sandler will join the Manning brothers in the second half of the game, with former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick set to join them in the first half. Belichick inked a deal with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions to appear on the ESPN2 altcast all season.
Manning told THR last week that he decided to shake up the format this year by having Belichick on, and leaning into celebrities later in the game.
“We tried to study it every off-season, what we did last year, what we did well, what we can do better. And we thought, you know, what a unique opportunity to bring Bill Belichick on, hear his insight about the defense, about a tough head coaching decision,” Manning said. “He’ll fit right in, because he doesn’t like Eli that much, because Eli beat him in two Super Bowls, so that’s why I’m glad to have him. I need a little more ammunition when Eli makes fun of my forehead.”
“We’ll still have the [rotating panelist of guests] on in the second half,” he continued. “We tried to do a little study. We think fans, they still want to hear from a celebrity that loves that team, but they’ve got to love football, and then maybe hear from a current player or an ex-player, maybe in the fourth quarter, when the game’s on the line, to get some real insight.”
