Why That ‘SNL’ Tom Hanks MAGA Sketch Matters

The backlash against Tom Hanks’ “Saturday Night Live” Black Jeopardy sketch hit social media in a hurray.

The backlash to the backlash was just as swift.

Hanks brought back his Trump voter character during “SNL50: The Anniversary Special.” The Oscar winner originally played the fictional Doug in a 2016 “Black Jeopardy” sketch.

At the time, Doug retreated when the show’s black host, played by Kenan Thompson, tried to shake Doug’s hand after the two agreed on a point. It’s because he can’t imagine shaking a black person’s hand without fearing the worst.

Get it?

At the time, it played off the Left’s willingness to stereotype Trump voters as racist. Clear as day.

The new sketch featured different performers, including “SNL” legend Eddie Murphy imitating Tracy Morgan. The joke? The real Tracy Morgan stood to Murphy’s right.

And, again, when Thompson’s character tried to shake Doug’s hand he backed away, afraid he might be robbed, hurt, or worse.

Get it?

Plenty has changed since the original sketch aired. President Trump expanded his base, increasing the number of minority supporters. He made significant inroads with Latino voters and drew more black men to his cause during his third and final presidential campaign.

Snoop Dogg, who previously imagined Trump being executed in a music video, performed during his inauguration festivities. So did Nelly.

The joke was wobbly in 2016. Now, it doesn’t pass the smell test. Even “SNL’s” liberal live audience failed to respond.

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

Right-leaning media melts down over ‘SNL’ skit not long after saying Americans are too sensitive – CNN

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.”

I’ll never understand sore winners. MAGA has been getting exactly what they wanted for a solid month now, and it’s still not enough.https://t.co/GYFSSvN1Ab pic.twitter.com/989rThm7hO

— jimtreacher.substack.com (@jtLOL) February 19, 2025

Saturday Night Live didn’t humiliate conservatives — social media influencers did, whipping their audiences into a frenzy and making them seem like humorless scolds. | @GiancarloSopo https://t.co/RR2vvGnlH3

— National Review (@NRO) February 19, 2025

Meanwhile, Megyn Kelly and Joy Behar agreed (for once!) that the sketch mocked MAGA voters as racist.

They’re right.

It’s impossible to view the new sketch without considering the context. “SNL” has been hammering the Left’s “Trump is Racist” narrative ever since he entered the political scene.

Hanks is a Biden supporter who looked past the leader’s obvious decline to record a video touting the addled president’s one-year “accomplishments.”

“SNL” lacks ideological diversity. Period. Its comedy can be ugly, too. Ignorant. We’re allowed to say so.

No one on the Right is calling for “SNL” to be censored. To note the obvious isn’t being a snowflake or part of the alleged “woke right.” It’s calling out an intellectually dishonest show that long ago shed its legacy.

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