It’s been nearly three decades since “Happy Gilmore” was released in theatres, but in the meantime the comedy classic has aged like a fine wine.
Those who were around back then fondly remember the film – perhaps, even too fondly – and those who were born after have come to love it on streaming platforms that weren’t even conceived of back in 1996. The movie’s enduring popularity was never more apparent than it was on Wednesday (AEST) when an open casting call for a long-awaited sequel caused massive gridlock in Morristown, New Jersey, and created a line longer than one of Happy’s mythical tee shots.
I know because I sat through the traffic in my car. And then stood through the line that slowly snaked its way from way (way) around the block, through an AMC movie theatre, and finally into the Hyatt Regency. Grant Wilfrey Casting, Inc., put out an open call the previous week that Netflix was looking for New Jersey locals to play the roles of “Happy Gilmore 2” extras. And word had definitely spread.
People were treating that green flier like it was a golden ticket. Not that a casting call can’t launch a career. Actor Domenick Lombardozzi, who I interviewed for Golf Digest last year, got his first film role, Nicky Zero in “A Bronx Tale,” from one when he was in high school. But Dom and others refer to the process as a cattle call. And I was about to find out why.
After finally parking, I arrived on the footpath outside the hotel and had trouble finding the back of the line. “Nobody really knows where it starts,” a woman amid the chaos says. “Everyone is telling us to go in a different direction.”
“Save my spot,” another person asks me. I never saw him again.
After a few minutes of confusion, a policeman started asking people to follow him. He wound up herding us around the corner. Only later did I see just how long the line eventually stretched when I saw the videos popping up on social media.
Happy Gilmore 2 Casting Call line. Wow.
Everyone wants to meet Shooter. I get it. pic.twitter.com/AjcXlJOgUC
— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) August 21, 2024
Damn straight, Shooter. What those videos don’t tell you is that those who made it inside still had about three hours of waiting. Again, I know, because I was brave (dumb?) enough to do it. I lived it so I could bring you this story. I might have “I survived the Happy Gilmore 2 casting call” T-shirts made.
So what was this production all for? A member of the Grant Wilfrey Casting team told me they’re looking for a bit of everything to play background roles, particularly golf fans in tournament scenes. “We need to hire 18,000 extras,” she said. “So this was a fantastic day for us.”
But was it a fantastic day for everyone else there? Back in the (back of the) line, I flagged down a man walking by with a wide smile because he’d actually made it through this gauntlet. It was possible! And his story inspired us to keep going with it.
“I hope I get cast, because I think it would be a great experience,” Marklyn Johnson gushed, thrilled that he was free from the line. “I think a lot of people are just hoping that they’re going to be around famous people.”
That certainly wouldn’t be the case today. Although one guy was excited to spot well-known YouTuber L.A. Beast. But to Johnson, a standup comic, it was a fun chance to observe as well.
“I just watched one guy in his cosplay outfit, he looked like a cosmic fox,” Johnson said. “He literally put on his helmet and had a glowing red tail. And I’m like, dude, what type of freak show is this? If you’re into people watching, this is great.”
Marklyn was right. I never saw that cosmic fox, but for the first hour, I kept myself entertained by watching people wearing white belts. And Shooter McGavin “I eat pieces of sh– like you for breakfast” shirts. And Happy Gilmore Bruins jerseys. And carrying around golf clubs. And sometimes all of the above.
I saw people doing wall sits. Another guy was staying loose by doing exercises with a resistance band. And someone was juggling a golf ball with a wedge. I was impressed until his third touch wound up in a flower bed.
Marklyn said he had arrived two hours early and that the casting call had begun 30 minutes before it was scheduled because there were so many people there already. It had taken him three hours to go through the process. Others weren’t so lucky. I talked to a couple of guys who had been there for four hours and still hadn’t entered the building.
“We were expecting this turnout,” a member of the Grant Wilfley Casting, Inc. team told me. “I don’t think the hotel was.”
I wasn’t expecting to go the distance, but then I saw a girl in her 20s turn to a group of friends and say, “Cmon, It’s nice out! Let’s make it an adventure, guys!” That’s the spirit. I told myself something similar about doing it for the story. As we neared the hotel, we saw a few high school boys with big smiles on their faces. Why would these kids spend one of their last days of summer break doing this?
“It’s one of my favourite movies,” said Brady Cassidy, who was born 14 years after the original came out. “And it was nice to do something that made me step out of my comfort zone.”
Wow, I wasn’t expecting such a mature answer. So how’d it go in there?
“I got the part,” Brady’s friend, Sean Carey, said. “I’m the new Happy Gilmore.” Congrats, kid.
When we finally entered the hotel, my new line friends and I celebrated. Then we realised this was like one of those rides at Disney World where most of the line is actually inside the building. I started having horror flashbacks to the time I auditioned for “American Idol” 20 years ago, a process that involved staying overnight(!) in some Washington DC convention centre. How did that turn out? Well, I’m a senior writer at Golf Digest who occasionally performs golf parody songs, so you tell me.
Anyway, on this day I was getting my steps in because this line stretched on . . .
And on . . .
And on . . .
Until finally a big group of us were seated in a room. Was this the Hyatt Regency ballroom? The final stage?! No, but it was nice to sit down.
We were then told that we could fill out an application online if we didn’t want to continue, but that we were “welcome to go through the whole casting process.” This confused just about everyone in the room. What had been the point of coming to this? Had there even been a point?
Despite this disappointing news, almost everyone in this hearty bunch decided to carry on. Besides a guy dressed as Santa Claus who declared he was “Going back to the North Pole because it’s too crowded in here.” The consensus was that there must be a point to it all. And after dedicating (wasting?) so much time, what’s a little more? The sunk-cost fallacy hits hard in these situations!
Through it all I was amazed at how calm and cool everyone in line remained. And by everyone’s ability to hold their bladder. But seriously, everyone was so nice. Especially the Fidalgo family immediately behind me the entire time. Mum Irma was nice enough to spend part of her holiday taking – and waiting with – her three kids, Kaitlyn (20), Ava (16) and Evan (13). All of whom are big Adam Sandler fans. In fact, they said they were watching a Sandler movie, “Mr Deeds,” when they saw a post about the casting call. And they attend or have attended Bridgewater Raritan Regional High School, where, randomly, there’s an Adam Sandler Day every year.
“Even if I don’t get it it was a cool experience,” Kaitlyn said. “I would do it for free.”
That’s right, there is potentially some money in this. Grant Wilfrey Casting said extras will make $US176 per 10 hours for non-SAG-AFRTRA members and $216 per eight hours for members. As a former SAG-AFTRA member as a child actor, I’m not sure what my pay would be, but I’m willing to negotiate. Another kid nearby, though, was much interested in something else.
“Do the extras all get to meet Adam Sandler?”
Um, sure thing, kid. After sitting for a spell it was back to the line where I got a nice pick-me-up from someone who recognised me. “The Grind! I watch your stuff!” And, no, I didn’t make this up. His name was Evan. And he was a real person. And he’s now one of my favourite people on the planet.
Shortly after, we were finally in the hotel lobby, periodically being reminded by hotel employees to stay against the wall and as out of the way as possible. When we went by the bar, one man ordered a transfusion. Well played.
The line dragged to the point that it seemed like this sequel would come out before we got to the end. Then, mercifully, we were finally summoned upstairs. The Hyatt Regency ballroom! We finally made it.
A group of at least 200 people took a seat and listened to general information about being an extra. If you’re thinking it was then that we got to audition and read lines with Adam Sandler or Christopher McDonald, you are sadly mistaken. We didn’t read lines with anyone, because, again, they’re looking for non-speaking extras. We didn’t do much of anything, in fact, other than filling out the form that we could have filled out about 90 minutes before. Or online at any point. Heck, anyone out there can still submit an application.
Those who made it all the way through handed in that form, got their photo taken, and, well, that was pretty much it. We were told filming would take place sometime in September in New Jersey and that you’d only get short notice if you’re selected. So keep your fingers crossed for me! If I don’t get it, I’ll blame my barber for going a tad tight on top last week.
The only way to stand out from the crowd – other than wearing something crazy or doing a Shooter McGavin pose for the camera – came on a line that asked for “Special skills.” Marklyn had put “Sh– talking” to try to stand out so I followed his lead by saying, “Cornhole and judging distances of putts on TV.”
Not my best effort, but I’m pretty sure no one else wrote that at least! Next to me, Matthew Roardy, a recent college grad, continued his answer on the back of his paper and filled it up with increasingly ridiculous stuff like, “I will do anything to be in this. I will swim with sharks. Naked.” Rooting for you, Matthew.
I was number 833 on my side of the ballroom, which multiplied by two gets you to nearly 1,700 people by that point. With about three hours to go, I estimated that about 2,500 people would be seen that day. As I exited the ballroom, I checked the time. It had taken just under four hours to get through the process. Yep, four hours. And more like five hours if I spent the time sitting in gridlock outside the building. But I made it. And it felt good high-fiving my new friends.
Actually, to my surprise, everyone I asked said they were glad they did it. And I believed them. Unlike my fateful American Idol audition two decades ago, there was no rejection. Just the hope that they’d get a call when the time comes. In addition to saying goodbyes, those who had just completed this, um, interesting process started saying something else to each other.
“I’ll see you on set!”
But am I glad I went through with it? Well, I’ll let you know in about a month. Perhaps, I’ll see you all there, too.
