stepped back onto the Saturday Night Live
stage just days after staging a “walk out” at the weekend’s Homecoming Concert. While the actor and his wife, Rita Wilson, appeared to be disgruntled at there being no awards getting handed out at the event, it was, of course, all part of the show. This meant that it was not a surprise to see Hanks back on the show for its 50th anniversary special, where he introduced a special montage of sketches that have aged as well as a Hollywood star without a good surgeon.
Hanks joined a segment dedicated to what SNL executives and cast members have termed “canceled characters.” The legendary actor, who is part of the show’s “five-timers” club, delivered a fitting monologue to introduce the rogue’s gallery of controversial, offensive, and generally just problematic faces to have graced screen as part of SNL’s line up. Hanks began:
“As we celebrate the achievements of the past 50 years, we must also take a moment to honor those who we’ve lost, countless members of the SNL family taken from us too soon. I’m speaking, of course, about SNL characters and sketches that have aged horribly. But even though these characters, accents, and let’s just call them ethnic wigs were unquestionably in poor taste, you all laughed at them. So if anyone should be canceled, shouldn’t it be you, the audience? Something to think about. Anyway, we now present to you this In Memoriam.”
From sexual harassment for laughs, to stereotypical, offensive portrayals of racial minority groups, the collection featured everything that you would commonly expect to see in an episode of South Park. For SNL, though, this was a goodbye to the kind of sketches that will not be making an appearance during this or any future series of the show. You can check out the segment below.
‘SNL’ Has Never Been Afraid to Push Boundaries
Like most comedy shows, humor is mostly a subjective thing, and while there are certainly times when Saturday Night Live may have pushed boundaries a little too far – especially looking back on some older moments – the modern show has continued to air some controversial moments in recent years. Several of these were seen in the montage, proving that while times change, there is always something new being put under the politically correct microscope.
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After 50 years, SNL continues to deliver a mix of comedy that your Nan can watch with ease alongside moments that will have her clutching her pearls. Naturally, there is a line drawn that the show’s writers know they can go right up to but not cross, and the knowing “tribute” to those times that perhaps someone slipped a toe into forbidden territory is a reminder of how sensibilities can change very rapidly in the world of comedy. No doubt in the future, SNL will be “celebrating” the demise of a new set of sketches that right now seem to be perfectly fine to chuckle along with.
Release Date
October 11, 1975
Network
NBC
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Al Roker
Self / Margaret Jo McCullin / Various
You can view the original article HERE.
