Adam Sandler Gets Engaged

June 25, 2002 -- America first got to know Adam Sandler when he appeared on Saturday Night Live, then cheered him on as — against the odds — he took on Hollywood.

But now there's a new chapter in the story: Adam Sandler, the romantic.

Sandler spoke about his new movie, Mr. Deeds, his fiancée, Jackie Titone, and his chance to work with his idol, Jack Nicholson, in an interview with Good Morning America. The following is the uncorrected, unedited transcript of the interview that aired on Good Morning America.

ABCNEWS' Diane Sawyer: So you're engaged.

Adam Sandler: Yes.

Sawyer: I guess it's just so, so wonderful.

Sandler: Thank you.

Sawyer: And a little hard to compute you're growing up.

Sandler: Trying to. Yeah, you know, I'm 35 years old. But I did it. It feels pretty good.

Sawyer: It changes things right away a little bit, doesn't it?

Sandler: Yeah. Yeah, I guess so. I mean, now, now I get a little more, you know, I can bring it up in a fight. "Hey, I got you that ring. Leave me alone," that kind of thing.

Sawyer: Did you think it through how you were going to do it, all ceremonial and everything?

Sandler: Ah, yeah. I played basketball that afternoon, trying to calm down, and then I was driving, I was saying the stuff out loud and trying to, you know, make sure I hit all of the right things so she would remember nice stuff, and I did all right.She called her grandmother right after, and her mother, and they all said, yeah, I heard the applause over the phone and stuff.

(Voice over) The lucky woman spending forever with Adam Sandler? Jackie Titone, the longtime love of one of America's favorite comedians. In his real life he is a romantic, in his new movie, Mr. Deeds, Sandler is a unique brand of romantic.

Sawyer: The foot clip.

Sandler: Oh, boy. Yeah, I came up with that disgusting display of feetetry —

Sawyer: You know, I said to myself, was this Chekhov or was this Sandler?

[Movie clip played.]

Sandler: I don't know. I don't know. Do you like that kid? All right. That's all that counts.

(Voice Over) Adam Sandler's current production is a film called Anger Management. His co-star? None other than Jack.

Sawyer: What was the first day like on the set with Jack Nicholson?

Sandler: Oh, that was the best.

Sawyer: How did you meet?

Sandler: I went up to his house, and I, and the funniest thing to me was he's the nicest guy. He's just a sweet guy, and we were talking, having a nice time. I was trying to calm down, you know, being in the room with him, and then all of a sudden he said, "Do you want some lunch?"

And I said, "Yeah, sure."And he goes, "I'll be back in a minute." And the nice lady is making lunch. I said, "What are you making?"And she says, "I'm making tuna fish sandwich."I go, "Oh, I don't like tuna fish. Do you got peanut butter or jelly?"

So I'm in the backyard with Jack a little later, and we're talking about the movie, and I'm trying to be serious, and all of a sudden this woman says, is holding two jars up, "Adam, Adam."

She's about 20 feet away from me. I can't see too well, and I'm looking, and then all of a sudden I hear, "She wants to know Skippy or Jiff."

It was funny. He's a great man. I love hanging out with him, love seeing him.

Sawyer: Does he compliment?

Sandler: Yeah. Oh, if he laughs at something I did, you know, I'd lay in my dressing room, "Oh, Jack …" I'm a little bit nuts. I do, I do worship the guy.