Ben Affleck's appearance on *Saturday Night Live* on May 18th, 2013, gave us a gift that keeps on giving: the infamous Hermès handbags skit. This seemingly simple commercial parody transcended its short runtime to become a memorable moment in SNL history, a testament to the show's ability to find humor in unexpected places and the comedic prowess of its cast and guest hosts. The skit, a bizarre and hilarious advertisement for Hermès handbags, showcases Affleck's willingness to embrace the absurd, resulting in a sketch that's both laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly insightful into the nature of celebrity endorsements and the absurdity of luxury marketing.
The premise is deceptively simple. Affleck, playing a slick, slightly-too-enthusiastic salesman, attempts to sell Hermès handbags, repeatedly mispronouncing the brand name as "Hermès Herpes" to increasingly awkward and comedic effect. The inherent absurdity of the situation – a Hollywood A-lister struggling to pronounce a luxury brand name – is immediately apparent, setting the stage for a series of escalating comedic mishaps. The supporting cast, perfectly embodying the awkwardness of the situation, contributes significantly to the sketch's success.
The skit opens with Affleck introducing the handbags, his delivery a blend of forced enthusiasm and subtle bewilderment. The initial stumble over the name is subtle, almost a slip of the tongue, but it sets the tone for the rest of the sketch. The repetition of the mispronunciation, however, is not simply a repeated joke; it's a carefully crafted escalation, building the tension and absurdity with each utterance. The audience is drawn in, anticipating the next flub, the next moment of awkwardness.
The supporting cast members add layers to the humor. Their reactions to Affleck’s mispronunciation range from polite bewilderment to outright discomfort, mirroring the audience's own response. Their lines, often short and deadpan, amplify the absurdity of the situation. One memorable line, delivered with perfect comedic timing, is: "One time, I thought I banged E.T. But it was just an old Chinese man on a bike. I was the one phoning home." This seemingly unrelated anecdote, delivered with complete sincerity, adds a layer of surrealism to the sketch, further highlighting the incongruity of the situation. The line perfectly encapsulates the odd, unexpected humor that permeates the entire skit. The jarring juxtaposition of a bizarre personal anecdote with a high-fashion handbag advertisement is precisely what makes the moment so memorable.
The sketch's brilliance lies not only in its comedic timing and delivery but also in its subtle satire. It cleverly pokes fun at the often-absurd world of celebrity endorsements and the sometimes-inaccessible nature of luxury brands. Affleck's character, despite his A-list status, is shown to be utterly out of his depth, struggling to navigate the complexities of selling a product he clearly doesn't fully understand. This relatable awkwardness makes the character endearing, even as he repeatedly mispronounces the brand name.
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