When I first heard that the Big Slick Party & Show on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Center was going to revive the old “Saturday Night Live” skit best known as “Da Bears,” I was skeptical about how they’d contour it to modern times and a Kansas City audience.
But at an event that featured the spectacle of Patrick Mahomes standing on stage throwing autographed footballs auctioned for $15,000 each to Travis Kelce to deliver in the crowd, nearly half the current cast of “SNL” and endless entertainment for a wonderful cause, the act formally known as “Bill Swerski’s Super Fans” struck me as the most memorable performance of the night. While the most significant highlight was the show-stopping “reveal” that this weekend’s efforts had raised $3,973,637 (and now $25,002,638 over 15 years) for Children’s Mercy hospital, “Da Bears” bit was downright “SNL”-worthy but all the more resonant because it was scripted for us.
George Wendt, the “Cheers” star who graduated from Rockhurst College, reprised his old role as Bob Swerski and was joined by nephew Jason Sudeikis in an homage to Chris Farley’s Todd O’Connor. They were joined by Big Slick regular Robert Smigel (the voice of Triumph the Comic Insult Dog). As they ribbed Kansas City and the Chiefs, Kelce wandered in and apparently offered his version of a Chicago accent as he boasted of the Super Bowl champion Chiefs. Then it got interesting with what seemed like no subject off-limits, including kicker Harrison Butker’s controversial remarks and the Chiefs’ poor grades on the NFLPA report card. “Happy Pride Month,” Wendt said. “Or as your kicker calls it, ‘June.’” Noting the Chiefs’ low ratings on facilities, Sudeikis said, “Real KC fans would pick up a side hustle to help out like that ChiefsAholic guy” — who pleaded guilty to a series of bank robberies, Added Sudeikis, perhaps best known for “Ted Lasso”: “If you don’t step up as fans, the Chiefs could leave.
And then what have you got? That Sporting KC soccer team. Soccer. Soccer. … Is there anything more boring than watching a soccer game? “Maybe you could say watching that (dumb) TV show about it.” The Big Slick evening began with a video of “Super Fans” of “Da Bears” with, from left, Jason Sudeikis, Robert Smigel and George Wendt, who were joined by Chiefs Patrick Mahomes, standing, and Travis Kelce, far right. Watching from the T-Mobile Center stage were co-hosts Heidi Gardner, from left, Paul Rudd, Rob Riggle and Eric Stonestreet. Reed Hoffmann Special to the Star When it was suggested that Taylor Swift could pay for a new stadium herself, her boyfriend, Kelce, smiled and said they should “pipe down” because that isn’t happening.
Then Sudeikis in character said, “When are you going to make an honest woman out of her? Taylor doesn’t need to be working any more. … Your kicker agrees with me.” After Kelce playfully said, “you’re really pushing it,” Wendt, about on cue, responded, “Look who’s losing it just like he did in the Super Bowl.” The reference was to an enraged Kelce rushing into coach Andy Reid. Big Slick co-host Paul Rudd, left, and Chiefs star Travis Kelce celebrate a win by their team in the hot wings trivia contest at the Big Slick Party & Show.
Reed Hoffmann Special to the Star Joined by Mahomes moments later, Kelce got the last laugh after Da Bears crew griped that Mahomes gets all the calls from the refs. “He gets just about every call you can think of,” Kelce said, pausing for effect and adding, “except this one time on draft day there was this team …” Da Bears, that is, who traded up to draft Mitch Trubisky instead of taking Mahomes. No wonder Sudeikis, wearing a Bulls’ Scottie Pippen jersey and having to hold on a fake mustache much of the time, started beating on his chest a la the Farley version of the character. When the skit was over, co-host Heidi Gardner called it “the best thing I’ve ever seen in my life.” She later called joining Sudeikis, Rob Riggle, Paul Rudd, Eric Stonestreet and David Koechner (who was unable to attend on Saturday because of a family commitment) as hosts was “the biggest honor of my life.” “Saturday Night Live” cast members were out in force for the Big Slick Party & Show on Saturday.
Jason Sudeikis asked the question on everybody’s mind Saturday night during the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend in Kansas City.
During a skit based on Saturday Night Live’s ‘Superfans,’ Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was a guest and Sudeikis put him on the spot immediately.
“Hey Travis, real talk OK, just the guys here. Hey, when are you going to make an honest woman out of her?” Sudeikis asked, referring to Kelce’s girlfriend Taylor Swift.
The nine-time Pro Bowl tight end laughed at the question but didn’t give an answer.
Sudeikis added, “Taylor doesn’t need to be working anymore.”
Kelce and Swift dominated NFL headlines for much of last season as the pair went public with their relationship and Kelce and the Chiefs had a tremendous season ending in their second straight Super Bowl.
Kelce’s production last season saw a bit of a drop compared to his usual numbers. He finished with 984 receiving yards, his first season with less than 1,000 yards since 2015, and his five touchdown receptions were his fewest since 2019. However, he played a vital role in all four of Kansas City’s playoff wins and became the NFL’s all-time postseason receptions leader with 165.
Engagement rumors have picked up steam as the couple approaches their first anniversary. The New York Post reported that one insider expects them to be engaged by July.
