Alright, let’s get into it. “Saturday Night Live’s” 50th anniversary special was supposed to be a celebration, a nostalgic look back at one of the most influential comedy shows in television history. Instead?
It turned into yet another Hollywood lecture—this time with Tom Hanks donning a MAGA hat to play a clueless, racist Trump supporter. And let’s just say, it didn’t go over well.
Hanks reprised his 2016 character, Doug, in a new “Black Jeopardy!” sketch. Back then, the bit was actually clever—showing unexpected common ground between working-class Trump supporters and black Americans.
But fast-forward to 2025, and this version wasn’t about finding common ground. It was about reinforcing tired, outdated stereotypes. This time, Doug refuses to shake hands with the black host, played by Kenan Thompson, making the character a full-blown bigot.
The backlash was immediate. Trump supporters flooded social media, calling the sketch divisive, unfunny, and completely out of touch with reality. And they have a point—because, in case “SNL” writers haven’t checked the polls, Trump just won the popular vote and made historic gains with black and Hispanic voters. The entire premise of the sketch was based on an outdated narrative that no longer matches reality.
Tom Hanks went on SNL dressed like a slob mocking millions of Trump supporters – portraying them as dumb, racist, rednecks.
Keep it up libs. You’ll never win another election again. pic.twitter.com/MigX4rE0Sa
— Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) February 17, 2025
Former RFK Jr. aide Link Lauren didn’t hold back, slamming the show for pushing a “disgusting” and “snobbish liberal elite” agenda. Right-wing influencers piled on, calling out Hanks for mocking half the country while “SNL” continues to hemorrhage viewers.
And it wasn’t just conservatives cringing—some neutral observers pointed out the painfully awkward silence in the audience when Hanks made his entrance. When “SNL” fans aren’t even laughing, you know you’ve misfired.
But it didn’t stop there. The entire special was packed with political cheap shots, from Steve Martin joking about Trump renaming the Gulf of Mexico to Colin Jost suggesting “SNL” could be canceled if Trump gets his way. Cecily Strong even took a bizarre dig at pro-life voters, joking that she wanted to “keep her baby unborn” until Trump was out of office. Yeah, that happened.
The problem? This brand of smug, self-congratulatory comedy just isn’t landing anymore. “SNL” has been bleeding viewers for years, and moments like this are exactly why. The show has become predictable—less about sharp satire and more about pandering to an elite audience that wants to feel morally superior. And judging by the backlash, plenty of people are fed up with it.
