Hey folks, I'm Matt major welcome to another
edition of good news York joined as always by
my Utica devil fan. Yeah, I uh, I uh True, it's
a Utica devil shirt a throwback when I was growing
up. We had the Utica devils Which had Martin
Broder who ended up being a Hall of Fame goalie
But there's a reason I'm wearing a hockey shirt.
See there's always a method behind my madness
Matthew and first of all It's good to know. I
do want to let you guys know we do not have sensory
issues. This is we're wearing headphones because
we have a guest. We're on a podcast. You don't
have to explain why we're wearing headphones.
Yeah, but we never wear headphones. I guess that's
true. But that is my segue into introducing a
very special guest. It has to do with hockey.
In fact, there's a movie that recently came out.
Can you guess what movie I'm talking about? Not
hockey. I'm sorry, golf. Yeah. Golf and hockey.
I don't know, but I'm pretty happy to, uh...
Oh, look what you did there. Happy to, uh...
Happy to hear about this. He's getting to...
Incredible guest. ...this, uh, to the segue,
which is, we are welcoming a very special guest
from the movie Happy Gilmore 2. It's not Adam
Sandler, but goddamn, does he look... He's real
close. Does he look like him? Max Kessler is
live. I want to say via satellite. I've always
wanted to say via satellite. What's up, buddy?
What's going on? You got you know, you got the
second best thing to Sandler on the on the line
Oh my god, dude. So first of all, thank you for
coming on the show It is good news York sponsored
by ads on the go get ads on the go comm max There's
so much we want to talk about but the first thing
was, you know We saw pictures and video of you
obviously and I knew you kind of looked like
Adam Sandler But man when you popped on the screen
this morning it really I don't know what it is
today. Maybe you really look like Adam Sandler.
So I'd love to jump right in, Max, and ask you
about this because this whole, you were like
the perfect storm of just like made to fall into
what you've got going on, right? Right down to
your name. It's unbelievable. Would you mind
just giving folks kind of that story of how you
even interacted and where that all came from?
Yeah, absolutely. And thank you guys for having
me on. So. It's it's a wild story. So back in
2016 and and I guess predating 2016 Everybody
has always said I look just like you know the
younger version of Adam and in 2016 they came
out with the do -over and Adams characters name
in the movie the do -over was Max Kessler So
I remember watching that on my couch and I'm
like this can't be real. Like somebody had to
have dubbed, right? Sure. And trolled or whatever
it was anyway. So, uh, you know, this predates
Instagram, tick -tock and, and all that good
stuff, at least like the influencer stuff. So
I posted it to Reddit and I was like, there's
no way people are going to see this, but 10 million
views later, um, Adams saw it, invited me to
the premiere. And for the first time we met,
uh, it was on the red carpet at, at the do -over
premiere. That's incredible. I saw that interview
actually. Yeah, exactly. Oh, that was that moment
was the first time a moment was the first time
and I'm not gonna lie I was a little like of
course you're nervous right like you're nervous
because You're on the red carpet in front of
tons of cameras But then on top of that meeting,
you know, such a such a big -time celebrity.
Yeah It was nerve -racking for sure dude. That
is I mean that really is an incredible story.
That's incredible now When you, I guess what
I want to ask is, was acting ever on your radar?
Had you wanted to be an actor or be in film?
Because I know you did go to Syracuse University
for, what was it, like finance? Yeah, finance.
Finance, right? So, you know, and not saying
it can't happen, but usually that doesn't translate
into film. Did this kind of this this whole thing
with Adam Sandler did it springboard your acting
career or was it something you were working towards?
Anyway, yeah, it's funny like I think that I
always wanted to meet him More than actually
acting per se because like everybody had told
me like I said from eight years old on That I
looked just like him. So I think I was kind of
like, all right I look like him like let me meet
the guy, right? Um, so once I met him in 2016
that Checked like that box was checked and I
was I was totally okay. And then when they Were
filming Happy Gilmore 2 and I'm in New York City
and they were filming it in New Jersey About
a hundred people sent me a message, you know
go go audition go be in the movie go try out
and I said no Not to not to have Madison, but
all my friends. I was like, yeah, I'm okay busy
whatever and then they had reached out and I
was like Alright, let's yeah What was your reaction?
Did it feel like a prank call or were you could
you believe it was really happy Madison productions
Colin? It's just like this story is just so crazy
because you 2016 is now nine years ago, which
it doesn't feel like yeah No, it's so long ago.
So it just wasn't really Even on my radar. So
when they had when they had message or someone
from casting had messaged and said, we're interested
in you playing this role. I think I was just
more like, is this gonna come full circle? Like,
is the story gonna end? So, more of that reaction.
That's awesome. Absolutely amazing. Absolutely
amazing. I mean, look, being in a Sandler film
alone, what it could do for somebody's career,
but the way this came about is just so... So
crazy. It's the most incredible story. I absolutely
love it. I think, yeah, I think people don't,
and when I post a story or whatever, I think
people kind of like, oh, he looks like him and
now he's in a movie. I think people kind of miss
them, which I think is the coolest part. Don't
get me wrong, filming for Happy Gilmore 2 is
incredible, but the same name and that being
able to go viral and then get the invite and
then... go to a movie. I mean, there's layers
to this thing. Max, did you ever get any sort
of backstory from the writers or whoever came
up with that name in the film, where they picked
it from? I never asked. I never did. That's incredible.
So we'll just assume it was. You got to mix it
in. Like, it was actually an old classmate who
knew I looked like Adam, so he wrote the story
with me in mind. But we can read that lore, you
know? So take us to the actual production. You
show up. You're like, holy shit. Like, you know,
I looked like Adam Sandler. I got to meet him
in 2016. Now I'm in a film with him. Had to feel
surreal. Can you give us just a little, you know,
a little taste of what it was like on set? Any
great stories you got? Yeah, for sure. No, a
happy two. Happy two. Surreal is a happy two.
Look at that. Good marketing, buddy. Everybody
watch it. It was surreal is a good word. Nerve
-wracking is a good word. Feeling out of place
is a good word. I think, like, the first day
I was on set, You don't realize if you've never
done this before, how many cameras and cast and
extras there are at these productions, especially
the ones that I was involved in, which were primarily
golf scenes. And I was just blown away. So when
they said action and they had me go out there
and do the part, I think I was just, I mean...
the first time out there, I was just freaking
out. So I would say the best part about the first
day was leaving because I was like, damn, I actually
think I may have pulled this off. Good for you,
man. For those of you that have not seen Happy
Gilmore 2, which is on Netflix now, I watched
it last night. I'm not just saying this. I text
the guys. I was expecting, hey, you know what?
It's going to hit a nostalgia nerve. It's probably
not going to be as good. Dude, it was awesome.
And I don't think I've ever seen as many guest
appearances as I... I mean, at one point, they
pan through the crowd and fucking Becky Lynch
from WWE is just an extra. You know what I mean?
Like, even the extras were celebrities. And the
thing I loved about it most was all of these
celebrity guest appearances, a lot of times when
you try to squeeze that many in, it feels very
forced, very wedged. It actually was perfect
because in true Sandler style... he's the king
of just giving celebrities cameos. It was awesome.
Did you get to meet a ton of celebs? I mean,
because there were a lot of celebrity guest appearances.
Did you get to meet anybody cool? I did. And
you know what's funny? Like, when you're actually
in there and you're acting, you're like, wow,
I'm in the same room as these people. Like, you
kind of have that, you know, revelation. But,
you know, of course... the Sandman and I were
hand in hand. So he was super helpful and influential
with how I was able to execute what I did. So
kudos to him and worked with him a lot. The second
person that I worked with probably the most was
Julie Bowen. And I think that she, if I was nervous
or if I just needed some assistance, she was
there for me. She lightened the mood. She told
me I was doing a good job. She was like my, you
know, number one fan. And I thought that was
like really cool, you know, watching her on Modern
Family and then, of course, in the first movie.
And she's done, you know, countless things. But
to work with someone like her was amazing. And
I met some golfers too, of course. There were
pro golfers there. That was pretty awesome. So
ton of people. But I would say Adam and Julie
were the two that I probably spent the most time
with. That's amazing. Are you a golf guy, Max,
before the movie, I will say? So, you know, for
audition purposes, I've been playing golf since
I was two years old. Fair. For post -audition
purposes, I rarely picked up a golf club. Fair
enough. Yeah, but they, funny enough, they did
have, you know, they had golf coaches on set
that were instrumental in me learning that Happy
Guild Wars swing, the iconic swing. Wow. And
then they did have golf coaches that weren't
on set that were doing private lessons with me
leading up to and during filming. That's a nice
little bonus. Shave some strokes off your game.
Absolutely. I said some of my friends would have
loved it. I'm not a big golf guy, but it was
cool. Learning the Happy Gilmore Swing, it's
just from the first time I did it to how I can
do it now, it's nice. Dude, this is incredible
all around. I wanted to ask, so you said that
you went to school for finance, and this kind
of fell in your lap. Are you getting more acting
work now, or do you plan on to keep pursuing
acting, or is it kind of just a one -off for
you? Yeah, I mean, listen, I think, you know,
The phone line is never shut off, right? So I
posted, I announced that I was in the movie last
Wednesday. I think it was now. And if anybody's
interested, I'm open ears. I think it was a really
cool experience. I think what makes this story
so great though, is that I'm just like a normal
person who has a day job, who happened to then
go and be on a Hollywood set. And I think I love
that about the story, and I'd like to keep it.
So I'm never, you know, I'm never gonna say no
to opportunities, but my day -to -day shouldn't
change all too much. What's it like, Max? So
you, you know, you go and you do this incredible
thing, and now the actual movie's out, so everybody
sees it. What's it like to go back to work the
next day? This is the weirdest thing that I've
ever experienced, because you go on set, A, you're
with, you know, celebrities, but... Aside from
that like you are almost a celebrity in and of
itself when you're on set So people want pictures
with you they want you know to follow me to follow
them on social media You know, there's like this
whole hype around Max Kessler Sure set and then
you go back to your normal life and normal job
and and friends and they're just like This guy's
just like yeah, she's just max Yeah. Max, have
you seen the first film? Was it on your radar?
I mean, I'm sure you've heard of it. But, you
know, were you a fan of the first movie or was
it something you went back and watched once you
found out you were gonna be a part of it? Yeah,
so I watched it. You know, growing up, everybody
says I look like Adam. So I've seen a lot of
his films. I would say that I've seen the first
one more the last, you know, six months than
I did the prior. 32 years of my life, but Growing
up I did I did watch this film. I think what's
cool though, too I keep saying was cool, but
I think what's what's interesting is I'm almost
like I was able to see Adam is just like a person
because I'm not like a big movie buff And I'm
not like a big, you know mega fan of famous movie
people So it actually helped in this type of
role, because when I showed up to set, I wasn't
like, oh, my god. Like, I was more like, cool.
Like, I get to work with this really talented
person, just like you would work other jobs.
It just happens to be in film. You know, what
a healthy mindset for you, overall, saying, you
know, hey, you know, I'll leave the door open,
you know, but I'd like to leave it as a cool
experience. I think, you know, you showing up
on set with that mentality of like, hey, I'm
just a dude, and like, I'm not going to be starstruck.
I bet you Adam loved that because I'm sure he
deals with that kind of stuff all the time Yeah,
they did and I think like one of the cool things
um And and I think I can share this because it's
from my experience. So My favorite I haven't
even told this to many people. So my favorite
moment on set was probably the last day So we
it's called a they wrap you so like if you're
one of the actors It's been to set a decent amount
like they'll wrap you after your last scene And
I finished the scene and everyone starts standing
up and they're clapping. And I hear, and I'm
like looking around, like who are they clapping?
You know, like what's going on? And I hear the
director, one of the directors, there's a few,
say that's a wrap on Max. And everyone was just
going nuts and they were just saying how great
I did. And it was like, to be honest, like sure,
like it was cool to go film with. Julie Bowen,
and cool to hang out with Sandler, and it's cool
to be on camera. But in that moment, I was like,
I just did something that I never thought I could
do, and the appreciation for that was through
the roof. So, speechless. That's amazing. Again,
those of you that have not seen Happy Gilmore
2, it does air on Netflix. It's airing on Netflix
now. And I want to kind of touch the topic of
the scene itself. So you are, I tried to, you
were definitely in the beginning of the montage.
Let's talk about the actual scene that you're
in. And it's kind of a flashback of Happy Gilmore
when he was younger, and you're the young Adam
Sandler, which you did great. It seemed like
it was very physical. But then I noticed there
was also some scenes later on in the movie. So
take me through the scene that you did, that
montage, and then were there any other parts
that you were in that I thought I caught? Yeah,
so the montage parts you'll see that they use
in the first like I think it's like three minutes
of the film Yeah, they use a few scenes from
the first movie which you could probably identify
and then they use the majority of that montage
showing, you know, the younger version is is
scenes that I that I filmed so You know, you'll
see like the the SNL skit. Yes the Trojan commercial
you'll see the golf swing in the water, which
by the way was like the best day. Of course.
I came home in pain, but it was still worth it.
It was awesome. I'm not a stunt guy, but I was
for that scene. And then you'll see, I think
there's like, it opens with like a celebration,
like he's throwing the golf club in the air,
like that's me. And then also like a bird scene
where, you know, he's putting and the bird poops
on the ball and it goes in and he celebrates
and whatever. So those scenes were the ones that
I was involved with. Which is really cool because
you know when I when I saw the movie for the
first time in the cast and crew screening I hadn't
seen it before and they of course and they turn
it on and i'm like Wow, like you know, you're
the first three minutes you're opening up the
movie So it was super cool to my knowledge. There
was nothing um after that montage That I that
I filmed or that I was that I was in I did see
Like if you see him teeing off on the t -box,
there's like a younger face in the background
Yes. Which I thought was interesting and I don't
know what that is, but I don't, you know, I have
no confirmation that it was made, but I did see
that. The swing you did and fell back into the
pond, was that a one take deal? Like you had
to get it in one take or did they have to wait
till you dry off and you do it again? Yeah, I
wish I could tell you it was one take. It was
probably about eight takes and they don't wait
for you to dry off. you know, you do the take
and then you're out of the water and your new
costume, new makeup, new hair, they didn't really
put makeup on me, but new, let's for all intents
and purposes, makeup, new hair, everything, and
then you're back out there to do the take again.
So it was, you know, falling back, back flopping,
like. six to eight times, doesn't feel so good
at the end. But again, like it was just the thrill
of it was just. Does it get easier or harder?
Like, do you anticipate that impact more or?
It's a really good question. The first time was
definitely the toughest just because you're like,
can you? I didn't practice it like you actually
trust yourself. It's like a trust fall, but there's
no one behind you. So once I knew if I did that
swing, I was going to be OK. It got easier. got
harder on the body, but easier on the mind. Fair.
When you're in a film, for those of you that
don't know, you get things called sides if you
have a speaking part. And what that is, it's
basically your lines. And that's what you're
going to learn for the film. So you didn't have
any lines. Did you just kind of show up blind,
like, OK, I'm here. What am I doing? Or did they
kind of tell you ahead of time, hey, prepare
for this. This is what you're going to be doing.
Yeah. So they gave me the lines that I needed
to that I needed to memorize and I needed to
go up there and say... Well, you do have lines.
I'm sorry. I apologize. No, it's okay. Totally.
So they gave me those lines, and then they gave
me exactly kind of where I should go, how I should
celebrate, what I should do things. I will say,
like, that was part of it. There was a lot of,
like, improv on Adam's part, which was great.
He would, especially the first day, he did the
scene first, and then I was able to kind of,
like, mimic his movements and do as close to
what he did. As I could so I really I relied
on the slides and the pre work But then a lot
of like in moment with my both my acting coach
and and Adam To be able to execute was there
a lot of rehearsal or was this kind of like just
throw you out there? Just you know rehearsal
with the acting coach one -on -one for sure a
lot of that more like learning Adams mannerisms
and kind of learning, you know how you kind of
can like put yourself into a scene and really
live it. Um, but for the most part, it was like,
once you're, you know, show up and, and we're
going to rock. So Max, uh, I'd love to just take
a moment if you could, cause you're kind of an
average guy and I love to peel back the onion
a little bit of how these things work. Right.
So could you take us through here? You are, they
call you to be in this Adam Sandler movie. Kind
of what are the professional steps, right? Do
you have to go out and get an agent and join
the the actors union and all these different
things? Yeah So I didn't I I kind of just I got
like they said you're in the movie and again
when you're when you're not an actor and This
opportunity arises you will do anything and everything
sure make sure that you get the role Especially
just cuz like it's a full circle moment so They
say I'm in the movie. They sent me kind of like
a baseline contract. I signed it. Lucky enough,
because I have a normal job, I didn't necessarily
want to join SAG because the benefits I already
kind of have through my existing company. So
I didn't have to join SAG. And I don't know what
the rules are, like how many credits until you
have to. Like, I'm not creating all that. But
yeah, it was pretty standard. No agent signed
it on my own, said, let's do it. and showed up
to set. And then, so as you go forward, I know
we talked about a little bit, it sounds like
you're not aggressively hunting down new roles
all the time, but you're obviously open to it.
Is that something where you think about hiring
other folks or bringing on help to do that, or
are you pretty comfortable with kind of the way
this has gone, and if it happens that way, it
does? Yeah, I think a combination. I think like,
as of right now, the way I look at it is if somebody
Shoots me over an email or shoots me over a DM
or whatever it is I'm always willing to get on
the phone and hear them out and see if it's something
I'm interested in I would say as far as like
hiring an agent and doing all that I haven't
put much thought into it I mean just like to
your point just enjoy this experience see where
it goes But don't want to get too carried away
and too out there and terms of life And I got
to think you got a little bit of an advantage
because you have that training in the financial
world and I'm guessing you probably have some
friends in the legal world and you know a lot
of these services some of these professionals
might provide. Sounds like maybe you even have
some of the background for anyway right? Yeah
exactly and I think like you know every opportunity
is different and right now there's there's nothing
just staring me at the face. I mean I know I
just just kind of was just announced it but See
what happens and see where it goes and if that
need arises then for sure right now Think we're
okay solo Dola. I don't know man I don't I just
get the feeling that this is you know, even especially
at the way you approach it I feel like you're
one of these guys who's you're gonna be kind
of the John Daly of Acting where you're just
casually here and instantly a superstar. I don't
know. I just kind of see your future and in a
lot more Yeah, and if you follow Adam Sandler,
you know, he's a very loyal guy, and he likes
to employ the same people. Like, you're in that
crew technically now, so you might get a call
for, you know, to do a bit part coming up in
the next few years. Who knows? But I have one
more question for you. Are you, have you been
a part of all kind of, there's a, when movies
are released, there's a lot of hoopla, right?
There's movie premieres and interviews and press.
Have you been a part of any of that, part of
this whole process? Yeah, so it was interesting
because this one had so many cameos and such
a big press angle really intended for a lot of
these really super famous cameos. I was lucky
enough to go to the cast and crew screening,
which was really cool, to hang out with the cast
and watch the movie for the first time. I've
done some interviews with you folks on my own.
I haven't done anything through Netflix, officially,
as far as, like, PR goes, but I have done some
super cool interviews. Good for you. You deserve
it, man. You're such a great guy, and this couldn't
have happened to a better guy. I gotta ask one
last thing. Do you have a Sandler impression?
Everybody at... So, it's funny. I was on a podcast
earlier. I'm cutting over a little cough, but...
I was on a podcast earlier and they asked me
to do an impression and I said, I could do a
couple and they said, can you do the Chalamet
one? So I could try to do it again. Let's do
it. I don't know how good it's going to be. What
you're going to have to do is be very honest
and you're going to have to be reading 1 through
10. Oh, let's do this. Perfect. Let me get my
buzzer ready. Honest feedback. Honest feedback.
Here we go. Chalamet! 10. 10. 10. 10. 10. That
was fantastic. That was so good. That's all the
acting coach, I guess. That's great. That's awesome.
That's an endorsement for them right there. That's
a commercial for that coach. I also love that
every Sandler impression usually consists of
one word. He's one of the only people where you
can just say, shut up, and it's a done deal.
Perfect. I want to throw one thing at you. Being
the 90s kids that we are growing up, Adam's original
comedy albums were some of the all -time classics.
We listened to them in high school. We recited
obscene lyrics in the back of the classroom.
I don't know how many times. Did you ever get
into those? I know, and that's what I'm asking.
I won't hold it against you if you haven't, but
those go way back. Have you heard some of those?
Yeah, I mean, not as much as I probably should.
Fair enough. The goat. My god, I'll have to go.
I'll have to go tune in to him though man Yeah,
I was gonna say if if you want some required
reading out of all of that stuff the goat dudes
the goat those comedy albums Changed my life,
and I'm not even kidding you It would they were
that instrumental he used to be addicted to crack
I did and then he heard the goat I heard the
goat and that was it Well listen Max Kessler
actor, awesome guy, in Happy Gilmore 2, airing
on Netflix. What have you got before we go? Do
you come back to the Syracuse area often? Listen,
I am an avid Syracuse fan. Yes! I try to come
back once a year. I am going to the Syracuse
first Tennessee game in Atlanta. Are you going
to the home opener? Yeah. I'm going to the home
opener. But I love to get back for basketball.
If this basketball team can turn it around, someone
needs to figure it out. Were you at SU when Bayheim
was still coaching? Yeah, I was at SU. We were
really good. I was there from 2010 to 2014. Oh,
hell yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah. I saw Deion Waiters,
Fab Mella. I mean, Chris Joseph, Scoop Jardine.
Oh, dude. I think we were number one in the country
every year at one point. That was there. That's
incredible. And then we just, oof, dropped out.
It's coming back. Next time I'm in the Syracuse
area. Maybe. Actually, I'll leave you on this.
This is funny. So this is how you know I'm a
huge Syracuse fan. My dog, who's now two years
old, his name is Tully, named after Tully's.
No way, dude. Oh, yeah. That's awesome. I take
my son to Tully's all the time. The best. It
is the best. Dude, listen. You're gonna be surprised
the more you come back because microns coming
through There's a lot of major changes going
on for the city of Syracuse and surrounding areas.
It's really exciting. I love and Please come
on the show if you come into town like just come
hang out. Yeah. Yeah, we would love that Max
Kessler from happy Gilmore to max I don't know
if you've got any plugs or social media or anything
like that Did you care about but if you do we'd
love to share that? I mean, I'm happy. Like,
yeah, easy. It's the real Max Kessler on Instagram
and TikTok. So go check it out. Nice. Dude, Max
Kessler, we love you. This has been really awesome,
man. I really appreciate it. Thank you for your
time. Good luck with everything. You're such
a great guy. I hope you do get more acting work,
dude. I know, right? I really do. You deserve
it. I'm telling you, this is the next superstar.
We're going to have one of the first interviews.
We're launching his damn career right from here.
You guys are launching it right now. That's it.
Right now. Amazing. I love this guy. Max, thank
you so much for joining us. Yes. Good luck with
everything. Max Kessler, happy Gilmore 2 here
on Good News York, sponsored by Ads on the Go,
getadsonthego .com. That's it. I think we're
good. All right, buddy. Thanks, buddy.