Last Sunday’s airing of the SNL50: The Anniversary Special, a highlight of the 2025 TV lineup, captivated many with its celebrity-filled skits. However, it didn’t escape the limelight entirely without stirring up a bit of debate, particularly over its Black Jeopardy! sketch. In this particular rendition, veterans like Eddie Murphy and Leslie Jones joined forces, while Tom Hanks reprised his character, Doug, a MAGA supporter. Now, former cast member Victoria Jackson has shared some insights on the controversy surrounding this sketch.
What Was The Sketch About And What Did Victoria Jackson Originally Say?
For several episodes, “Black Jeopardy!” – a recurring sketch featuring Kenan Thompson as host Darnell Hayes – has been a popular segment on SNL. Modeled after the actual game show hosted by Alex Trebek, who enjoyed these segments, it presents contestants answering trivia questions about Black culture. In a special anniversary episode, Tom Hanks’ character Doug correctly answered a question and expressed thoughts about church. However, when Darnell agreed and offered to shake his hand, Doug appeared reluctant to accept.
Victoria Jackson, a former cast member on “Saturday Night Live” from 1986 to 1992, took part in the anniversary special and acknowledged the specific segment. Later, TMZ reached out to her, and she ended up labeling the skit as “dumb.” Additionally, Link Lauren, who posted on X, criticized the comedy bit for perpetuating the idea that backers of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again movement are racists, a notion that Jackson’s comments seemingly align with.
Previously hinted at, Tom Hanks didn’t first portray Doug in the recent sketch; he did so back in 2016, a performance that has become one of the most popular SNL clips on YouTube. In this earlier segment, the socially awkward Doug was able to answer questions deftly and connect with his African-American peers. Much like the latest sketch, there’s a scene where he almost misses shaking hands with Darnell. Many viewers believe that Doug is one of Hanks’ finest characters, and after this recent performance, Victoria Jackson is said to have criticized him quite strongly.
How Did Victoria Jackson Clarify Her Comments About Tom Hanks?
A former resident of the “Strip Mall” shared a video on Instagram, aiming to clarify some misunderstandings. In the video, she pondered if the statement “all publicity is good publicity” truly holds water. Then, she addressed Tom Hanks, whom she met at SNL50, directly:
Apparently, I slammed Tom Hanks. Tom, I’m sorry if I slammed you. I did not slam you.
Later on, Victoria Jackson pointed out an article from TMZ, which her publicist friend had shared with her earlier regarding the ‘Black Jeopardy!’ sketch. At first, she didn’t recall it, but her friend provided her with an article explaining the segment and the handshake scene. Once she was reminded, she called it a “distasteful” moment and noted that the audience didn’t find it funny. To clarify, she agreed with Link Lauren’s sentiments and further stated that the skit was “offensive.
You know, MAGA supporters support a safer America… We love everybody.
I must express my agreement with the comedian’s statement, as she voiced concerns about certain explicit sexual content in the series. For a more detailed explanation, you can watch her thoughtful response in the video linked below.
A post shared by Victoria Jackson (@victoriajacksonofficial)
A photo posted by on
In summary, Victoria Jackson seems to be expressing that she didn’t use the sketch as an opportunity to criticize Tom Hanks personally, despite not sharing his views on it. Regarding the Black Jeopardy! segment, there’s a strong possibility it will resurface due to its popularity. However, whether or not Tom Hanks will reprise his role as Doug is still uncertain.
For now, remember that “Saturday Night Live” will resume on NBC this coming March 1 at 11:30 p.m. ET. The host will be Shane Gillis, while Tate McRae will serve as the musical guest. If you prefer streaming, a Peacock subscription can provide access to these episodes.
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2025-02-19 18:37