Adam Sandler Kicks Off “You’re My Best Friend Tour” in Jacksonville, FL & Kills It!

By Sandy Lo

Since I was a kid, I’ve always felt a connection to Adam Sandler. Not in a creepy way—though I did write him a fan letter at twelve years old telling him he had a nice body in Airheads. 😂

Sandler may not be everyone’s cup of tea comedy-wise. He’s silly and nonsensical at times, but that’s what I’ve always loved about him. He always seemed more like someone you knew than a big-time movie star. Sometimes he reminded me of my big brother making inappropriate jokes, my mother losing her temper in a way that made us laugh instead of fear her, or my friends and I, when we’d laugh for hours over things no one else got.

At the heart of every Adam Sandler movie is an underdog story and a loveable guy you feel like could be your best friend, which makes the title of his new tour so fitting.

The You’re My Best Friend Tour kicked off in Jacksonville last night, and my husband and I—along with thousands of others—were treated to a night of comedy, music, crude but ridiculous jokes that somehow weren’t offensive, and plenty of heart.

It honestly felt like hanging out with an old friend. And as a bonus, we got to see some other familiar faces, too.

Opening the show was Joseph Vecsey, who has produced some of Sandler’s films, like Hustle, and recently appeared as a caddy in Happy Gilmore 2. Following Vecsey was, of course, Rob Schneider, whose set had a mix of hits and misses, leaning heavily into humor that appealed to Florida’s Trump-leaning crowd. The last comedian before Sandler was Kevin Nealon, who nailed his set and reminded me of the kind of comedy you’d see on Johnny Carson.

With the crowd warmed up, Adam Sandler took the stage in a hoodie, khakis, and sneakers. I was surprised he wasn’t wearing his signature basketball shorts, especially given the Florida heat. Behind him were guitars—hinting that music would be part of the night—and Dan Bulla sat at a keyboard.

The first half of Sandler’s set focused more on stories and anecdotes before gradually becoming more musical. Some material was familiar from the 100% Fresh Netflix special, while other bits were brand-new. My husband, who only knew Sandler from movies, and didn’t grow up on his comedy albums like I did, was surprised by how crude some of the act was. One story—about his daughters, his wife, and his genitalia (or lack thereof, as he emphasized)—was clearly included for shock value, but it didn’t ruin the fun.

One of the night’s biggest highlights was when Sandler picked up a bass guitar and started strumming a familiar beat. Suddenly, Vanilla Ice appeared on stage and launched into “Ice Ice Baby,” with Sandler, Bulla, and a DJ backing him. If that wasn’t wild enough, Kevin James and Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles came out as backup dancers. It was pure entertainment magic.

My husband and I had recently seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in theaters for its 35th anniversary, and we’d been saying how much we loved the sequel. So when Vanilla Ice ended his performance with a “Go, Ninja, go Ninja, go!” chant, we were ecstatic.

The rest of Sandler’s set included audience participation. Instead of roasting people’s appearances like some comedians do (something I’ve always disliked), he’d shine a flashlight into the crowd and say things like, “Any couples here?” He’d then pick a couple and invent a silly backstory—not to insult them, but to create some playful, voluntary fun. He repeated this with prompts like, “Any middle-aged women here?” or “Is there a redheaded guy out there?” and every time, the humor came from his absurd imagination rather than mean-spirited digs.

To close the show, Sandler performed his tribute songs to Chris Farley and to other comedians and comedy itself. Hearing those songs live felt like an honor. His love for his friends and mentors is so pure and evident in everything he does. Finally, he ended with a reworked version of “Grow Old With You” from The Wedding Singer, rewritten for his wife, Jackie. All three closing numbers brought tears to my eyes.

I waited 30 years to see Adam Sandler live, and he did not disappoint!