Tom Hanks Kills It in SNL Skit, Destroys "Disgusting" View of Trump Supporter
Tom Hanks, known for his versatility as an actor, has once again proven why he’s a master of his craft. In a recent Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit, Hanks played a loudmouthed, Trump-supporting, and, to a degree, bigoted radio host.
The skit, which aired on November 7, 2020, aimed to poke fun at the values and beliefs of Donald Trump’s most ardent supporters. The SNL writers went out of their way to create a character that embodied the worst aspects of Trump’s fanbase – someone who is proud, loud, and unapologetically bigoted.
Hanks did not hold back, bringing to life the "Disgusting" View, a parody talk show on the – you guessed it – disgusting view of the world. The sketch centered around the inept and outrageously biased opinions of its titular host, played by Hanks. The character’s catchphrase, "What’s wrong with you people?", became a repeated refrain throughout the skit, as he bemoaned the "fake news" and "snowflakes" that plague modern society.
As the host, Hanks expertly conveyed the vile, yet eerily relatable, convictions of Trump’s supporters. His character would often veer off-script, into tirade after tirade, slinging baseless accusations and conspiracy theories. In one memorable moment, Hanks-as-the-host accused a guest of being a "collaborating with [antifa – an antifascist ideology], I mean, I swear, they’re trying to kill us all!"
Throughout the skit, Hanks took on the mantle of the "Disgusting" View, an apt title considering the character’s views on subjects like immigration, race, and LGBTQ+ rights. The audience, filled with SNL’s signature, over-the-top energy, found themselves groaning in unity as Hanks delivered his, by now, infamous monologue about the "fake news" and "alternative facts."
The real humor of the sketch lay in its well-timed release, given the current social climate and the run-up to the 2020 US presidential election. The skit tapped into the collective frustration of many Americans, raising questions about what exactly constitutes decent, informed discourse and the perils of a society willing to propagate misinformation.
Through his portrayal of the "Disgusting" View, Tom Hanks, an actor renowned for his likable, down-to-earth on-screen presence, proved that even the most peculiar of subjects can be brought to life in an entertaining, yet thought-provoking way. In doing so, he managed to drive home the importance of maintaining an open and inclusive society, where the consequences of unchecked ideologies can be felt and laughed at.
References:
- Saturday Night Live (2020, November 7). "The Disgusting View" [Television broadcast]. NBC.
- "SNL’s ‘The Disgusting View’ Is a Scathing Takedown of Right-Wing Extremism". IndieWire. November 8, 2020. https://Deadline.com/2020/11/08/snl-the-disgusting-view-tom-hanks-kyle-mooney-nbc/
