‘Billy Madison’ Returns to the Playground

Adam Sandler’s visit to some of his old haunts during a September visit to Manchester included a stop
at Webster Elementary School.

Lauren Foucher knew something was up when she heard the commotion outside her front window in late September.  

A chorus of kids’ voices was carrying louder than usual from just across the street at Webster Elementary School, in Manchester’s North End. When she walked over to investigate, it soon became clear why.

“All of the kids were surrounding this guy,” she recalled. “I walk up a little closer, and I’m like, ‘Who the heck is that?’… It’s Adam Sandler, oh my gosh.”

Sandler, of course, is no stranger to the neighborhood. An alumna of Manchester public schools (including Webster Elementary), the comedic superstar was back in town for what can only be described as a decidedly-un-VIP-tour of his old stomping grounds: A series of photos scattered across social media tracked his surprise visits to local playgrounds, restaurants, the Mall of New Hampshire and more.

“He stopped by with his mom and nephew to the diner, which is a local place that is filled with nostalgia and family connections for him,” the Red Arrow Diner divulged on its Facebook page. “He enjoyed chicken rice soup, a plain burger and a side of pickles.”

Back at Webster, Foucher said she was struck by Sandler’s ease, and how attentive he was to the kids who gathered to grab a high-five, pepper him with questions or pose for a photo.

“When you initially see someone that famous, you’re in shock,” she said. “He’s such a hometown, down-to-earth dude that you just felt almost like you were his friend, like you were comfortable, like you weren’t intruding.”

Adam Sandler poses for a photo with 7-year-old Izzy Foucher during a visit to Webster Elementary School in Manchester in September.

All told, she said, Sandler hung around the playground for about an hour. When Foucher finally approached to introduce herself and let him know she was one of his sister’s neighbors, he said she should “give (him) a call” if there’s ever any trouble.

“He was just super humble and friendly and funny,” Foucher said.

If there was one downside to the visit, it was that only one of Foucher’s daughters was around for it. Sandler threw up a peace sign for a photo with her 7-year-old, Izzy. But her oldest, Lyla — a budding performer herself, with a stint as an extra in “Beetlejuice 2” — was away at acting class. The 11-year-old was disappointed, but Foucher said she’s taking it in stride.

“It was inspiring for my daughter, Lyla, to hear one of the most successful actors in history acting stay close to his ties in small town New Hampshire,” Foucher said. “She was very happy her sister got to meet him even though she missed out.”

For now, their family is working their way through a Sandler movie marathon — and Lyla’s looking forward to the star’s next visit to her neighborhood.

Speaking of local celebrities: Jodi Picoult, who calls the Upper Valley home, is part of a group of literary powerhouses trying to take back control of their content from artificial intelligence company OpenAI. 

Their complaint, as reported by “The New York Times,” alleges, “The success and profitability of OpenAI are predicated on mass copyright infringement without a word of permission from or a nickel of compensation to copyright owners.”

Sick of the seemingly endless stream of unattainable, perfectly manicured homes flooding your social media timelines? So was Derry resident Stephanie Murphy, whose transparent “average middle-class house” tour on TikTok drew more than 600,000 views and the attention of “Good Morning America.” Murphy told the morning show, “I think it’s better for everyone’s mental health to see others in similar situations as them, so they know that they aren’t alone.”