Brad Pitt Answers Dr. Fauci's Call to Play Him on 'Saturday Night Live'

A couple of weeks ago, Dr. Anthony Fauci was asked who he would want to portray him on Saturday Night Live.

"Oh, Brad Pitt, of course!" Fauci, the country's top infectious diseases expert and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, joked on CNN.

On Saturday night, as the sketch show returned with another episode of SNL At Home that was produced remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic, Facui got his wish.

Pitt played Fauci during the episode's cold open—and began his cameo by noting how popular the medical expert has become. "Good evening, I'm Dr. Anthony Fauci. First, I'd like to thank all the older women in America who have sent me supportive, inspiring and sometimes graphic emails," Pitt said.

Pitt, as Fauci, then remarked that there was a lot of coronavirus misinformation out there, adding that, "Yes, [President Donald Trump] has taken some liberties with our guidelines. So tonight, I'd like to explain what the president was trying to say. And remember, let's all keep an open mind."

After a clip of Trump saying there would be a novel coronavirus vaccine "relatively soon," Pitt said: "Relatively soon is an interesting phrase. Relative to the entire history of earth? Sure, the vaccine is going to come real fast.

"But if you were going to tell a friend, 'I'll be over relatively soon' and then showed up a year and a half later, well, your friend may be relatively pissed off."

The next clip showed Trump saying that the virus would disappear "like a miracle."

"A miracle would be great!" Pitt noted. "Who doesn't love miracles? But miracles shouldn't be Plan A. Even [Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger] tried to land at the airport first."

Next, Pitt, as Fauci, commented on a clip of Trump saying coronavirus test kits are "beautiful" and "anyone that needs a test gets a test." Pitt said: "OK, a couple of things. I don't know if I would describe the test as beautiful unless your idea of beauty is having a cotton swab tickle your brain."

He added: "Also, when he said everyone can get a test, what he meant was almost no-one."

Pitt also addressed rumors that the president was planning to fire him and played a clip of Trump denying it. "So yeah, I'm getting fired. But until then, I'm going to be there putting out the facts for whoever's listening," he said. "When I hear things like the virus can be cured if everyone takes the Tide Pod Challenge, I'll be there to say, 'please don't.'"

At the end of the sketch, Pitt broke character, removing his wig and glasses to send a message to "the real Dr. Fauci" and viewers at home.

"Thank you for your calm and your clarity in this unnerving time. And thank you to the medical workers, first responders and their families for being on the front line," he said.

"And now, live, kinda, from all across America, it's Saturday night."