Inside Adam Sandler’s First Big Break Appearing On The Cosby Show
In October of 2020, the cameo-riddled Hubie Halloween joined the pantheon of Happy Madison Netflix originals. The film features prominent callbacks to Adam Sandler’s previous work — kids shout “O’Doyle rules!” as they pass by, Ben Stiller’s orderly from Happy Gilmore makes an appearance, even The Waterboy’s sheets get enough screen time to re-up their SAG-AFTRA benefits. With a back catalogue of work as robust as Sandler’s, these references draw into focus the films he didn’t call back to. Where was the Spanglish Easter egg? How does the story tie in to Reign Over Me? Does Hubie’s cautious nature stem from the loss of his twin brother, the gambling addict and precious stone purveyor who was viciously slaughtered in his New York business establishment?
Still, there’s one absent corner of the Sandler-verse that makes sense: his big break. It’s easy to forget that before SNL made him a goobity shoobity star, Adam Sandler got his start working with another silly sound enthusiast — albeit one whose legacy has taken a sharp left turn in the years since. The odds of catching his work in syndication are slim, but if you want to check it out for yourself, the DVDs are probably going for pretty cheap these days.
Back in 1987, Adam Sandler landed his very first onscreen role on the number one rated television program in America, The Cosby Show.
