Catch a rare glimpse inside Tom Hanks’ home as he hosts SNL’s first virtual episode
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“It is a strange time to try and be funny.”
Take it from actor Tom Hanks, who said these words from his own kitchen as he hosted a virtual episode of “Saturday Night Live” this week — the first to air since the late-night comedy series ceased production nearly a month ago.
Packed with jokes about the plight of Zoom conference calls and shortages of toilet paper, the experimental episode was filmed entirely from cast, musician and celebrity guest homes as they practice social distancing.
“It’s wonderful to see my beautiful cast mates on this technological approach to trying to do a live show,” said Kenan Thompson as their faces filled the screen at the start of the show. And Kate McKinnon didn’t miss a beat with her introduction: “Live from Zoom, it’s sometime between March and August!”
The show depicted a series of all-too-relatable vignettes from the cast and crew’s lives at home: playing with their dogs, attempting to solve puzzles, pouring glasses of red wine and watering their dying plants. Oh, and juggling canned food.
“That is some sound effect!” Hanks said of the artificial applause and whistles emanating throughout his kitchen as he pretended to take the stage.
The actor is recovering from COVID-19, along with his wife, Rita Wilson, which he was quick to acknowledge in his greeting.
“Why me as host?” he asked an invisible audience. “Well, for one, I have been the celebrity canary in the coal mine for the coronavirus. And ever since being diagnosed I have been more like America’s dad than ever before, since no one wants to be around me very long and I make people uncomfortable.”
Wearing a suit, he also joked, “This is the first time I’ve worn anything other than sweatpants since March 11.”
Watch the full introduction here:
Later in the episode, Pete Davidson portrayed a quarantined Drake who croons about missing an ex, and Larry David returned as Bernie Sanders one last time. McKinnon also performed a workout routine from home as Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Unsurprisingly, the show also took a jab at President Donald Trump. Imitating him, Alec Baldwin said that “every night at 7 p.m. all of New York claps and cheers for the great job I’m doing,” in reference to the newly widespread community practice of people applauding medical workers each night.
Taking on a more serious tone, Chris Martin of Coldplay was featured as a musical guest for the episode, performing an acoustic cover of Bob Dylan’s “Shelter from the Storm.” Former cast members including Adam Sandler, Bill Hader, Tina Fey and Maya Rudolph also paid tribute to music producer Hal Willner, who died earlier this week after reportedly exhibiting symptoms that were consistent with the coronavirus. He had selected and scored music for “Saturday Night Live” skits since 1980.
“We are in this for the duration, and we will get through this together,” said Hanks as he concluded his introduction. “We are going to thank our hospital workers, our first responders, and all the helpers. The supermarket stockers. The people who deliver our food. The people who are making takeout for us. The men and women who are keeping this country going at a time when we need them more than ever before.”
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Amanda Bartlett is an SFGATE associate digital reporter. Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @byabartlett
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