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Tracy Morgan Puts Brain Injury In The Spotlight For Upcoming “SNL” Episode
They say that laughter is the best medicine, and Tracy Morgan may be walking proof.
The actor and comedian has publicly struggled with his recovery from a severe traumatic brain injury sustained during a highway crash in June 2014, which also resulted in the death of his close friend and fellow comedian James ‘Jimmy Mack’ McNair.
However, Morgan seems to be getting back to his old self, filming an upcoming movie, returning to stand-up comedy, and hosting “Saturday Night Live” this Saturday. Morgan admits he is still recovering in many ways, and the promos for the upcoming “SNL” episode make light of Morgan’s recovery.
In the set of promos, Morgan feigns memory loss and confusion, stating the upcoming episode would be the finale, before being corrected by cast member Bobby Moynihan. In the second promo, Moynihan says it is an honor to have Tracy back to “SNL,” where he made his name as a cast member from 1996 to 2003.
“Did I used to work here?” Morgan replied deadpan. “I can’t remember anymore.”
While Tracy Morgan has always been one to make jokes, the laughing and lighthearted figure appearing in the promotional materials for the upcoming episode are far from the solemn, quiet person who first came out of a coma in 2014.
Morgan took a long time away from show business after his brain injury, relearning to walk and undergoing extensive speech therapy. He has only recently begun making public appearances, first giving an interview with Matt Lauer, then making a surprise appearance at this year’s Emmys.
“It’s been a long road back. I suffered a traumatic brain injury that put me in a coma for eight days,” he said on the award show. “When I finally regained consciousness, I was just ecstatic to learn that I wasn’t the one who messed up.”
In most cases, traumatic brain injuries are no laughing matter, but Tracy Morgan helps remind us that laughter can help us through difficult times.
