In a retro comedic twist, ABC’s The Goldbergs integrates the Adam Sandler feature film, The Wedding Singer into its storyline as part of next week’s episode. Created by Adam F. Goldberg, The Goldbergs first premiered on ABC in 2013. Based on Goldberg's experiences growing up in the 80s, the series is narrated by comedian Patton Oswalt and stars Wendi McLendon-Covey, Sean Giambrone, Jeff Garlin, Troy Gentile, and Hayley Orrantia.
The Goldbergs is produced by Netflix star Adam Sandler, who began his career on Saturday Night Live before crossing over into feature films. In 1998, Sandler starred alongside Drew Barrymore in The Wedding Singer, an 80s-set romantic comedy featuring a climactic airplane scene in which Sandler’s Robbie Hart serenades Barrymore’s Julia Sullivan. In the sequence, rock star Billy Idol appears as himself. With an $18 million budget, The Wedding Singer earned over $123 million at the box office and made Sandler a viable romcom star, this coming after a history of portraying buffoonish and niche characters.
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Per Goldberg’s official Twitter, The Goldbergs’ next episode will integrate The Wedding Singer into the narrative timeline. The series’ creator gave thanks to his producing partner Sandler, and noted that the appropriately titled episode “The Wedding Singer” will be his “favorite episode EVER.”
In the promo, the Goldbergs sit in the coach section during a flight and notice the aforementioned Idol speaking with one of the flight attendants. Meanwhile, a certain first class passenger (Sandler as The Wedding Singer’s Robbie Hart) crosses over from first class to win back a lost love (Barrymore as The Wedding Singer’s Julia Sullivan). The moment is lifted directly from the movie, yet the aesthetic perfectly matches that of The Goldbergs. “The Wedding Singer” marks The Goldbergs’ mid-season premiere.
Last October, The Goldbergs integrated an 80s horror icon into the October 24 episode “Mister Knifey-Hands.” Veteran actor Robert Englund reprised his famous character Freddy Krueger from the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, this coming after of months of requests from Goldberg himself. A deal was ultimately reached thanks to Englund’s manager Joe Rice, who happened to be a fan of the ABC series. Goldberg stated, “On our first call when we went over the script, I told him ‘of course I knew how to write lines for Freddy. He traumatized me as a child and is burned into my brain!’” In the episode, Beverly Goldberg (McLendon-Covey) meets Krueger in a dream after clashing with her son Adam.
While 80s nostalgia is nothing new in mainstream pop culture, The Goldbergs’ latest crossover with The Wedding Singer should make for a classic TV episode.
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The Goldbergs season 6 continues with "The Wedding Singer" January 9 on ABC.
Source: Adam F. Goldberg/Twitter