Adam Sandler wrapped up his nostalgic return as host of “Saturday Night Live” with an emotional tribute song to his friend and former castmate Chris Farley, who died in 1997 at age 33 of a drug overdose.
“When he cartwheeled around the room and slow-danced with the cleaning lady, he was a one-man party,” Sandler sang as he strummed a guitar, before recalling anecdotes of both Farley’s talents on camera and his gifts of personal excess.
“After a show he’d drink a quart of Jack Daniels and stick a bottle right up his a–,” he sang, “but, hungover as hell, that Catholic boy always showed up to morning Mass.”
The song, which Sandler had debuted on his recent Netflix stand-up special, offers personal reminiscences of their friendship and heartfelt sadness about his too-soon death — and was accompanied by both old snapshots and clips from Farley’s performances.
“I miss hanging out watching you try to get laid, but most of all I miss watching you torture Spade,” he sings, referencing another “SNL” alum from their era, David Spade.
Sandler kicked off his opening monologue describing his years on “SNL,” between 1990-95, as “the best time of my life” before singing about how he got fired — and bringing out another short-lived castmate, Chris Rock.
Watch his tribute to Farley above.