Advertisement

Brad Pitt riffs on Trump’s disinfectant remarks in SNL’s second at-home episode

Click to play video: 'Brad Pitt plays Dr. Fauci and unpacks Trump’s comments on disinfectant, coronavirus in SNL cold open'
Brad Pitt plays Dr. Fauci and unpacks Trump’s comments on disinfectant, coronavirus in SNL cold open
WATCH: Brad Pitt unpacks Trump's comments on disinfectant, coronavirus in SNL cold open – Apr 25, 2020

Saturday Night Live‘s second at-home episode featured Brad Pitt playing Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force and the U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert.

There’s been a lot of misinformation out there about the virus,” Pitt says while in character as Fauci.

“And yes, the president has taken some liberties with our guidelines. So tonight I would like to explain what the president was trying to say.”

This was a reference to Thursday’s briefing, when U.S. President Donald Trump wondered out loud if it would be helpful to inject disinfectant into people to prevent the virus — a notion that promptly had health experts warn it was a bad idea.

Story continues below advertisement

The cold open, shown from home, played various clips of some of Trump’s other most memorable quotes about the coronavirus, with Pitt-as-Fauci explaining the message.

Click to play video: 'Coronavirus around the world: April 26, 2020'
Coronavirus around the world: April 26, 2020

“They’re going to have vaccines, I think, relatively soon,” said Trump in one clip. Efforts to develop a vaccine could take at least 18 months.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“Relatively soon is an interesting phrase — relative to the entire history of earth? Sure, the vaccine is going to come real fast,” Pitt joked.

Earlier this month, in an interview with CNN, Fauci was asked who he’d want to portray him on SNL — Brad Pitt or Ben Stiller.

Story continues below advertisement

“Oh Brad Pitt of course,” he chuckled.

Click to play video: 'Coronavirus outbreak: SNL’s Weekend Update calls for adoption by Iraq due to Trump disinfectant comments'
Coronavirus outbreak: SNL’s Weekend Update calls for adoption by Iraq due to Trump disinfectant comments

The actor cycled through an assortment of Trump quotes, riffing on each one in character, before taking off his Fauci wig and speaking as himself.

“To the real Dr. Fauci, thank you for your calm and your clarity in this unnerving time,” Pitt said, before thanking medical workers and front-line responders as well.

Click to play video: 'Trump slammed for suggesting disinfectant ingestion as COVID-19'
Trump slammed for suggesting disinfectant ingestion as COVID-19

Saturday Night Live aired its first at-home episode on April 12, with the cast connecting on a Zoom call and actor Tom Hanks hosting from his kitchen.

Story continues below advertisement

The show’s intro was modified, showing cast members in loungewear in their respective homes, staying indoors amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The first SNL at-home episode came after the show spent several weeks off the air because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In mid-march, the weekly late-night show had announced it was postponing production due to the crisis.

Click to play video: 'Trump says his remarks on using disinfectant inside people’s bodies were sarcastic'
Trump says his remarks on using disinfectant inside people’s bodies were sarcastic

— With files by Global News reporter Katie Scott, The Associated Press

Curator Recommendations

Sponsored content

AdChoices