The recent Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special was meant to be a nostalgic celebration of one of America’s most iconic comedy institutions. However, one particular sketch from the night — featuring veteran actor Tom Hanks reprising a character he originally played in 2014 — stirred up a wave of controversy, especially among politically conservative audiences and Trump supporters.
The sketch in question was a throwback to the popular Black Jeopardy! series, which was originally aired in 2014. In it, Hanks played “Doug,” a white, middle-aged Trump supporter from a rural background who surprisingly connects with the Black contestants on the game show by sharing similar opinions and cultural grievances. The humor stemmed from the unlikely common ground between two seemingly opposed demographics — but for many viewers in 2025, the joke did not land the same way it did more than a decade ago.
A Look Back: The Original Sketch and Its Message
When the original Black Jeopardy! skit aired, it was seen by many as a clever, satirical commentary on the overlapping concerns and perspectives of working-class Americans across racial lines. Hanks’ portrayal of Doug — wearing a red “Make America Great Again” cap and a plaid shirt — started off as a caricature, but quickly evolved into something deeper.
Despite his initial awkwardness, Doug began giving answers to the game show questions that mirrored the thoughts and feelings of the Black contestants. These moments were often met with mutual understanding and laughter, suggesting that, beneath surface-level differences, there were shared concerns about issues like economic insecurity, government overreach, and mistrust in authority. At the time, many applauded the sketch for its unexpected depth and for breaking away from simplistic portrayals of Trump supporters.
However, the final line of the sketch — where Doug suggests creating a version of the show called “White Jeopardy” — undercut that harmony with a jarring moment that many interpreted as a nod to racial division. Even then, the line sparked mixed reactions. Some viewers saw it as an intentionally ironic gut-punch meant to snap the audience back to reality, while others found it unnecessary and offensive.
Fast Forward to 2025: Reactions Are No Longer Mixed
Fast forward to today, and the political climate has changed significantly. With America more polarized than ever and the 2024 presidential election still fresh in people’s minds, the cultural landscape is different — and so is the way audiences interpret satire.
During the SNL 50th anniversary, the Black Jeopardy! sketch was brought back, with Tom Hanks once again stepping into the role of Doug. While the skit followed much of the same formula, the modern-day context gave it a different tone. Social media was quick to light up with criticism, particularly from Trump supporters and conservative commentators who felt that the sketch perpetuated harmful stereotypes.
Conservative Backlash: “Out of Touch and Stereotypical”
Among the loudest voices criticizing the sketch were political commentators Benny Johnson and Mario Nawfal, both of whom took to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube to share their disapproval. They argued that portraying Trump supporters — especially white, rural Americans — as simple-minded or racially tone-deaf was not only offensive but also an outdated cliché that no longer reflects the political landscape.
Johnson, known for his viral political content, posted that the sketch was “proof that Hollywood still doesn’t understand the American heartland.” Nawfal echoed similar sentiments, adding that media elites continue to portray Trump voters through a narrow lens that doesn’t account for the growing diversity within conservative circles.
Supporters of former President Trump pointed to the fact that minority support for Trump has been on the rise, citing recent election data that shows increasing numbers of Black and Latino voters shifting toward Republican candidates. Critics of the sketch felt that this reality was completely ignored and that the joke rested on an old stereotype of the “out-of-touch white conservative” that no longer holds true.
Link Lauren and RFK Jr. Allies Weigh In
Adding to the controversy, Link Lauren, an aide to independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., also condemned the sketch. In a video posted on TikTok and Instagram, Lauren described the portrayal of Doug as “disrespectful, lazy, and harmful to civil discourse.” He argued that comedy should be used to bring people together and challenge the powerful, not mock everyday Americans who feel unheard and misunderstood.
Lauren emphasized that humor targeting political groups — especially in an environment as sensitive as today’s — should be nuanced and reflective of the nation’s complex social dynamics. “You can be funny without being demeaning,” he said. “Satire should challenge ideas, not reduce people to caricatures.”
Fans Respond: From Disappointment to Defense
Fans of Tom Hanks, who is often regarded as one of the most beloved and apolitical figures in Hollywood, had varied reactions. While many expressed admiration for Hanks’ comedic timing and his willingness to return to SNL after so many years, others saw the performance as a rare misstep. Some fans even went so far as to call it a “low point” in his otherwise distinguished career, stating that the role felt beneath the actor’s usual standards of class and nuance.
At the same time, there was also a wave of support for the sketch, particularly from longtime SNL viewers who praised the show for staying true to its tradition of bold political satire. They argued that no political group should be immune from comedy and that SNL has always poked fun at public figures and cultural archetypes — from liberals to conservatives and everyone in between.
The Broader Question: What Role Should Satire Play in a Polarized Era?
The debate around Tom Hanks’ portrayal of Doug and the return of Black Jeopardy! raises a larger question: What is the role of satire in today’s highly polarized society?
For decades, Saturday Night Live has used humor as a mirror to reflect and critique American society. From impersonations of presidents to absurd takes on current events, the show has built a reputation for tackling controversial topics head-on. But in recent years, audiences have become more sensitive to how certain groups are portrayed — and rightly so. With increased awareness around representation, identity, and political bias, many viewers now expect satire to punch up rather than punch down.
In this environment, the margin for error is thin. What one person finds clever and thought-provoking, another may find offensive and dismissive. This tension has led many creators — from comedians to filmmakers — to navigate an increasingly complicated balancing act: how to be bold and relevant without crossing the line into mockery or misrepresentation.
Conclusion: A Cultural Flashpoint Wrapped in Comedy
Tom Hanks’ return to Saturday Night Live should have been a universally celebrated moment — a tribute to one of Hollywood’s most respected figures on one of television’s most historic nights. Instead, it became a flashpoint for political and cultural debate, highlighting the deep divisions that still exist in American society.
Whether intentional or not, the Black Jeopardy! sketch served as a reminder of how powerful — and controversial — comedy can be in shaping public discourse. It also underscored the need for more inclusive and thoughtful portrayals of all Americans, regardless of their political affiliation.
At a time when unity often feels out of reach, perhaps the real challenge for shows like SNL is finding ways to use humor as a bridge — not a wedge — in the national conversation.
