As a long-time SNL enthusiast with over three decades of laughter under my belt, I must say that this new cast is a real game-changer! The return of some old faces like Maya Rudolph and Dana Carvey, coupled with fresh talents like James Austin Johnson and Bowen Yang, promises to bring a unique blend of humor and insight into the political landscape.
Saturday Night Live has found its 2024 political candidates.
Kicking off its 50th season, the NBC comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL) has selected its latest group of prominent political figures for impersonation. This lineup includes Kamala Harris (portrayed by Maya Rudolph), Tim Walz (Jim Gaffigan), Joe Biden (Dana Carvey), and Douglas Emhoff (Andy Samberg). Members of the SNL cast, James Austin Johnson and Bowen Yang, will take on the roles of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance respectively.
On Saturday night’s season 50 premiere, all the actors were unveiled right at the start of the show.
In a contemporary article for Hollywood Reporter, Michael hinted at the need to revamp the Trump impression on SNL; a change that was necessary when James Austin Johnson replaced Alec Baldwin in the role. As Michaels stated, “James, who I believe is outstanding, portrayed Trump as a less powerful figure. Picture him chatting at the back of a hardware store, and that worked because it felt contemporary.” However, he added, “Given the debate we’ve seen, we will have to reimagine it once more.
Previously, it was announced that Rudolph would reprise her character as Harris, whom she’s portrayed for quite some time, primarily due to the fact that the former SNL cast member delivers an exceptional Harris impression and because, as she stated in 2022 to THR, “they know if they call, I’ll be there.” Recently, Michaels revealed that no other actor was ever thought of for this role once Harris announced her candidacy over the summer. However, keeping Rudolph in the role required some intricate scheduling adjustments. For instance, since she resides in Los Angeles and is a mother of four, she needed to delay the start date of her Apple TV+ series “Loot.
Shortly after Tim Walz was announced as Kamala Harris’ running mate, there were attempts on the internet to match him with Steve Martin for the role. As Colin Jost, co-anchor of “Weekend Update,” commented, this is just what takes place now. “As soon as news like Kamala’s campaign emerges,” he said to THR, “America begins debating who will portray them on SNL. Before we’ve even had a chance to discuss it, there’s already a list of ten people suggested for Tim Walz.
Occasionally, the internet can come up with great suggestions. In this case, Michael decided to reach out to his longtime friend. However, as Martin shared with the Los Angeles Times, “I wanted to decline, and by the way, [Lorne] wanted me to refuse.” Michael later confirmed this, telling THR: “[It’s] not typical of what he does, but there are plenty of things he does that you’ll soon see.” (Michael plans to involve as many former hosts and cast members as possible as the show marks its 50th season.)
Indeed, inviting actors to portray politicians during crucial election years, as SNL has done with individuals like Baldwin and Jim Carrey (who impersonated Joe Biden previously), can sometimes be met with discomfort among current cast members. As Jost put it, “If you’re a cast member who thinks, ‘I could do a better impression than that person coming in,’ it might be frustrating. However, it’s just the nature of our show.
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2024-09-29 06:54