Chris, 8, got a hard lesson about the vagaries of show business on Thursday's Tonight Show. Tom Hanks and Jimmy Fallon put on their acting berets to read some scenes from Bridge of Spies — not the Steven Spielberg thriller that Hanks stars in, but scripts sent in by grade-schoolers who were given only the name to work off of. Hanks and Fallon started out with Chris' script, and it was surprisingly good — so good, Hanks slipped it into his pocket, saying, "That deserves a second look." The second scene, a confusing love story sent in by 7-year-old Jack, was passed over by Hanks, who said it needs a little polish. But at the end of the last scene — a heartfelt thriller with a twist by Luke, 7 — Hanks was so impressed he took out Chris' script and put in Luke's: "That's the one right there."
So what did we learn? Hanks is better at staying in character than Fallon. Young children can write compelling dramas, and/or watch too much TV. And screenwriters and agents, Tom Hanks likes a script about friendship with a happy ending. Watch the young playwrights make their debuts below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
'Without mandatory testing, bird flu will continue circulating at farms across the country'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Thirteen missing after Red Sea tourist boat sinksSpeed Read The vessel sank near the Egyptian coastal town of Marsa Alam
-
Khan supporters converge on IslamabadSpeed Read Protesters clashing with Pakistani authorities are demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box officeSpeed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appealSpeed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain PrizeSpeed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 winsspeed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
