Why That ‘SNL’ Tom Hanks MAGA Sketch Matters

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The criticism towards Tom Hank’s “Saturday Night Live” Black Jeopardy sketch quickly spread on social media.

The backlash to the backlash was just as swift.

As a seasoned movie critic, I found myself reminiscing during SNL50’s Anniversary Special, where Tom Hanks reprised his memorable role as a Trump voter, originally brought to life in the iconic “Black Jeopardy” sketch from 2016. In this case, I was the one voting for Hanks’ captivating performance that left me in stitches!

In the heat of our recent debate on the show, I found myself hesitant when the esteemed host, Kenan Thompson, extended his hand for a shake. You see, my apprehension wasn’t about the agreement we had just reached, but rather, an unconscious fear that clouded my judgement. This fear, unfortunately, stemmed from my inability to comfortably shake hands with someone of a different race.

Get it?

In retrospect, it was evident that the political left often generalized Trump supporters as being racially prejudiced. This was plainly obvious to me as a cinema enthusiast.

In the latest act, various artists took the stage, among them was the esteemed Eddie Murphy portraying Tracy Morgan. Here’s the twist: the genuine Tracy Morgan stood to the right of Murphy.

Additionally, when Thompson’s character reached out to greet Doug with a handshake, Doug hesitated, fearing the possibility of being robbed, injured, or even endangered in some other way.

Get it?

Since the initial broadcast, there have been numerous developments. During his final presidential campaign, President Trump managed to broaden his supporter base, attracting a greater number of minority voters. He notably made strides with the Latino community and drew in more black male supporters.

At Snoop Dogg’s and Nelly’s performances during Trump’s inaugural celebrations, they had previously depicted Trump in a music video as if he were being executed. This has been rephrased to say: During the events marking Trump’s inauguration, both Snoop Dogg and Nelly had previously shown Trump being portrayed as if he was executed in their music videos.

Looking back on it now, the humor in that film from 2016 just doesn’t seem to hold up. It no longer passes my personal “smell test,” if you catch my drift. Not even the usually enthusiastic “Saturday Night Live” audience could muster much of a response this time around.

On cue, far-Left media outlets pounced on conservative reaction to the sketch.

MAGA’s maniacal reaction to Tom Hanks proves they are his ‘SNL’ character – AZ Central

Conservative media outlets express strong criticism towards a Saturday Night Live skit, just moments after claiming that the American public is oversensitive.

MAGA Melts Down Over Tom Hanks Playing Racist Trump Fan on SNL50 – The Daily Beast

MAGA Couldn’t Handle Tom Hanks Playing a Racist Trumper on ‘SNL’ – Rolling Stone

Even some conservatives, in the words of Taylor Swift, suggested their peers need to “calm down.”

In an unexpected turn of events, I found myself nodding in agreement with both Megyn Kelly and Joy Behar – an unusual occurrence indeed. It seemed they concurred that the satirical piece skewered MAGA supporters, portraying them as harboring racial prejudices.

They’re right.

To fully appreciate the latest cartoon, one must take into account its surrounding circumstances. Since his entry into politics, “Saturday Night Live” has consistently portrayed Trump as a racist in their skits.

Tom Hanks, a follower of President Biden, chose to overlook the apparent deterioration in the leader’s abilities and created a video highlighting the accomplishments of the seemingly confused president during his first year in office.

Saturday Night Live” often appears to lack a broad range of ideological perspectives. It’s not always pretty, and at times, it can come off as uninformed or insensitive. However, we have the freedom to express our opinions about it.

It’s not the case that people on the Right are advocating for the censoring of “SNL.” Pointing out the obvious doesn’t make one sensitive or part of the so-called “awakened right.” Instead, it’s about recognizing a show that has moved away from its former legacy and often displays intellectual dishonesty.

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2025-02-21 02:03