When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.<\/i><\/p>\n Credit: NBC<\/p>\n Chris Farley is an example of an SNL<\/u> alum who made a huge impact in the five seasons<\/u><\/a> he was on. Whether he was dancing shirtless with Patrick Swayze or delivering one of his funniest sketch comedy quotes<\/u><\/a> about his \u201cvan down by the river,\u201d he always knew how to make an audience laugh. However, considering his untimely death in 1997, SNL 50 writer Dan Bulla got real about why mentions of the Tommy Boy actor these days always \u201csteer\u201d toward the emotional (especially when Adam Sandler is involved).<\/p>\n Chris Farley was a Hollywood star who never made it to 40<\/u><\/a>, and we\u2019ll always wonder what would have become of the comedic actor if he were still alive. If he were able to come on the 50th Anniversary Special with his other SNL alums, I know he would have stolen the show the moment he stepped on stage. During SNL 50, they still paid tribute to him, though, and writer Dan Bulla told Vulture<\/u><\/a> that he and Adam Sandler knew how emotional it would be, explaining:<\/p>\n Sandler does everything with heart. When we do a song about Farley \u2026 [Trails off.] It\u2019s these topics where, of course, you\u2019re going to get emotional because you\u2019re talking about it. But we don\u2019t sit down and say, \u2018All right, we got to get this one emotional.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s natural that anytime you write a song about a friend who\u2019s passed away, no matter how funny the lyrics are, the emotions will still kick.<\/p>\n Adam Sandler\u2019s first time singing \u201cThe Chris Farley Song\u201d was on his Netflix special 100% Fresh on the 21st anniversary of the actor\u2019s death<\/u><\/a>. When he returned as a Saturday Night Live<\/u> host for Season 44<\/u><\/a>, he played the song again for live-studio audiences. You couldn\u2019t help but get emotional seeing the clips behind the 50 First Dates actor of the two starring in sketches together, like \u201cLunch Lady Land\u201d and \u201cZagat\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n And, of course, The Sandman had to mention his best buddy in his and Bulla\u2019s song \u201c50 Years\u201d that played during the 2025 TV release<\/u><\/a>, SNL50: The Anniversary Special. After all, it’d be hard to pay tribute to one of the best sketch comedy shows without mentioning Farley.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a reason why Adam Sandler works with his friends multiple times<\/u><\/a> in his movies (including Chris Farley). He clearly likes working with familiar faces that he can have fun with and make humorous magic together. But despite how funny he can be onscreen, Dan Bulla reminded us that the talented actor is never afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve:<\/p>\n It\u2019s just kind of who he is. When Sandler really finds his voice and is at his most authentic, he\u2019s a guy with heart. So it just steers that way automatically.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n With both these tribute songs, it makes perfect sense why they’re so emotional. Sandler is a loving guy, and he loved and still loves Farley deeply.<\/p>\n<\/span><\/div>\n