What it’s really like inside Big Slick party in Kansas City: ‘No winging it’
Big Slick, the annual celebrity-led fundraiser benefiting Children’s Mercy, came through Kansas City in the blink of an eye the weekend of May 29. It feels like the party is just starting right as it ends.
At least, that was the feeling inside T-Mobile Center for their 16th edition.
The variety show started at 8 p.m. and ended at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31, a much shorter experience than guests are accustomed to seeing. The hosts began the night warning the audience that they’re “on the clock,” and have a hard stop at midnight due to a co-headlining concertby rock bands Breaking Benjamin and Staind coming to the venue Sunday, June 1.
“Guys like Mac and Big Earl are keeping an eye on us,” host Jason Sudeikis said.
“No winging it for the first time ever in Big Slick history,”Paul Rudd, another host, added.
Last year’s variety show ran for over three and a half hours, and tales from past guests warned others that the show sometimes goes on for 4-5 hours. Plus, previous Star coverage shared stories of iconic skits and jaw-dropping surprises, which may have set expectations for the show a little too high for this first-timer.
Nevertheless, the celebrities didn’t waste any time as the clock started its slow crawl to midnight.
Here’s what it was like inside Big Slick’s fundraising event for 2025.
Best dressed for Big Slick
Who would’ve thought an AFC Richmond jersey would be out of place at an event featuring Ted Lasso himself?
Guests who bought tickets, whether it was VIP access that allowed them early-entry and the opportunity to talk to the over 40 celebrities in attendance, or regular attendees in section 101, put on their best suits and dresses for the occasion. My jersey garnered quite a few compliments, however.
The celebrities hanging out on stage were dressed to match their personalities. “Saturday Night Live” star Heidi Gardner was shining in patterned pink and blue high-waisted pants, while “Ant-Man” Rudd honored his Kansas City roots by wearing a Monarchs jersey.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce wore a matching tracksuit, contrasting brother Jason Kelce’s button-up shirt with flamingos as he carried a case of the brothers’ Garage Beer on stage. Comedian Seth Herzog took it a step further by stripping down to his underwear before performing his stand-up comedy set.
Looks clearly didn’t matter, as everyone in the building was under the roof for one reason — supporting the local children’s hospital.
On-stage antics
Two-and-a-half hours saw a lot of variety from the celebrity guests.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw three signed footballs with his and Travis Kelce’s signature to fans in the crowd who bid on the item while taking snaps from actor and host Eric Stonestreet and actor Samm Levine.
“Who wants a (expletive) football?” Travis Kelce said, snatching the microphone away from host Rob Riggle.
The Impractical Jokers — Sal Vulcano, Brian “Q” Quinn and James “Murr” Murray — shared a story involving a Zoom segment gone wrong for a game show called “The Misery Index,” that ran for three seasons from 2019-2022. While we can’t print the mishap, just know it involves a female body part.
Herzog and fellow comedians Fortune Feimster and Adam Ray all had the entire arena laughing at jokes that we also probably can’t print. Magician Blake Vogt wowed the crowd and was called a witch by Sudeikis for the trick he showcased to the arena, in which he somehow ripped two separate card pieces apart and fused them back together with no glue, tape or adhesives.
Mahomes and Kelce drew the loudest reactions of the night, but the crowd got amped during the live auctions, where money only seemed to be a number to the guests bidding on items like a “Ted Lasso” experience Jason Sudeikis that sold for $200,000. The bidding started at $5,000, and each paddle that went up made the crowd jump in excitement at seeing the number grow.
Lucky fans who bid and won a package to attend the red carpet event for Rudd’s movie, “Anaconda,” also got an “anaconda hug” from the actor with an instrumental of Sir-Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” playing through the arena speakers.
And just as it felt like the action was starting to heat up, the hosts announced the record-breaking total and the night came to an end with the entire team singing the “Cheers” theme song — as they always do.
This year’s rendition was even more special with the recent death of actor George Wendt, who played Norm on the legendary sitcom and was also Sudeikis’ uncle.
Who knows what else they had in store if they weren’t restricted by the time?
Was Big Slick worth it?
The time element played a huge role in the show, but it didn’t take away from the experience. Where else are you going to see some of Kansas City’s finest celebrities all together in one place?
The entire weekend, from the private party Thursday to the celebrity softball game Friday and the show Saturday, are all built with one goal in mind: to help Children’s Mercy further their research and boost their care for kids in need.
And the hosts made sure you knew it.
My health issues as a kid were less severe than the stories shared by the hosts during the show, but it was always the doctors and nurses at Children’s Mercy who provided me with the treatment I needed.
Big Slick will always be worth it.
This story was originally published June 1, 2025 at 10:30 AM.
