Actor Steve Martin (left) won't be portraying Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (right) on Saturday Night Live.CBC News
Steve Martin won't be taking on the role of the Midwestern politician that fans had eagerly anticipated.
With Maya Rudolph's beloved portrayal of Kamala Harris on "Saturday Night Live," viewers were curious to see who the show would choose to depict Harris' new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Fans quickly drew parallels between Walz and Martin, noting their similar hairstyles and glasses. Although Martin has been a frequent guest on "SNL," he has never been a formal cast member.
According to the Los Angeles Times, "SNL" producer Lorne Michaels offered Martin the role for the upcoming 50th season, premiering on September 28. However, Martin declined. "I wanted to say no, and, by the way, he wanted me to say no," Martin explained. "I told Lorne, ‘I’m not an impressionist. You need someone who can really nail the guy.’ I was picked because I have gray hair and glasses."
Initially, Martin played along with the idea, even joking on social media platform Threads that he "just learned that Tim Walz wants to go on the road with Marty Short." However, he acknowledged that portraying Walz would require a long-term commitment to the show. "It’s ongoing," Martin told the Times. "It’s not like you do it once and get applause and never do it again. They need a real impressionist for that. They’re gonna find somebody really, really good. I’d be struggling."
Maya Rudolph, meanwhile, will reportedly return to her Emmy-winning role as Kamala Harris. According to Deadline, Rudolph adjusted the shooting schedule for her comedy series "Loot" from August to January to accommodate her role on "SNL" during the election season. Rudolph, who both stars in and executive produces "Loot," understands the dedication required for the part.
Rudolph first took on the role of Kamala Harris on "SNL" in 2019 during Harris' presidential campaign and continued after Harris became Joe Biden's running mate. Her portrayal of Harris as "America’s fun aunt" has been widely praised and eagerly anticipated by fans.
