It's true that everyone will have their own favorite moments from 'Saturday Night Live.' And there will also always be critics waiting to spill their opinions, even if fans disagree. Fortunately, quite a few people agreed that one specific 'SNL' sketch featuring Tom Hanks is worthy of the "best ever" slot.
Tom Hanks is known for executing some pretty dramatic roles, but he's also got a great sense of humor. So fans point to his epic performance in the 'SNL' skit Black Jeopardy as the best-ever -- or at least one of the best-ever -- sketches.
Tom Hanks Was 'Doug' On 'Black Jeopardy'
It wasn't just belly laughs that spoke to viewers when Tom Hanks became "Doug." One fan that stated the sketch is one of their favorites summed up the premise of that particular scene; "Smartly and hilariously, it suggested an idea that’s novel in 2016: Maybe America isn’t as helplessly divided as it seems."
The sketch involves Doug competing at Jeopardy against two black contestants, and he managed to charm his competitors even while sliding borderline-racist, yet seemingly unintentional, comments in between.
Tom Hanks' character "Doug" even wore a trademark red hat, said things like "Git Er Done," and spoke with a bit of a twang. But he did get plenty of answers correct, and the highlight -- other than laughs -- was that the sketch "cut across racial lines," noted the fan.
Why Do Fans Think Tom Hanks' Sketch Was The Best?
Other fans agreed that the Doug sketch was one of their top picks, too, In fact, the post earned more upvotes than fans' other suggestions for the best-ever sketch. But why?
The humor was there, which of course is the top requirement. And that combined with a pretty "woke" sketch, which aired in 2016, earned that episode quite a few accolades. At the time, the US was entering its election season, and Doug represented a large fraction of America.
The thing is, there's a reason why the cast of 'SNL' winds up earning so many Emmy nominations. They entertain, sure, but they also speak to the audience in a way that a lot of shows aren't able to. Overall, the theme seems to be 'make people laugh while dishing out harsh truths,' but the combination works.
As the one super-fan who wrote up their evaluation of the sketch noted, "On this episode of “Black Jeopardy,” the questions are rooted in feelings of disempowerment, suspicion of authority, and working-class identity."
Clearly, those are themes that both Doug and his co-competitors can relate to (and the audience, too).