The October 2016 sketch has become a mainstay on many memorable SNL moments lists.
That is: until Hanks’s drawler Doug.
The inspo
“I had the idea brewing for a little while.
Kenan Thompson as Darnell Hayes.NBC
It started brewing in me that there might be a sketch in this,” Tucker toldVulturein 2018.
Previously the sketch, which originally debuted in March 2014, had featured out-of-touch contestants played byLouis C.K.andElizabeth Banks.
“Tom Hanks is incredible at taking any character and making him human.
Tom Hanks as Doug.NBC
The prep: ad-lib, Forrest, ad-lib!
Like allSNLhosts, Hanks had a gauntlet to run through in the week run-up to hosting the show.
For the Black Jeopardy sketch, he had a total of three days to prepare.
It wasn’t until showtime that the finishing touches were made.
Remember when Kenan went to go shake his hand and he stepped back?
He didn’t tell those people he was gonna do any of that.”
Breaking down the acclaimed sketch, CheexplainedtoSeth Meyersthat they wanted the comedy to tease out commonality.
There’s a lot of Jesus and guns and big trucks."
On one hand, many applauded the way it underlined commonality across differences.
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