Steve Martin Turns Down Playing Tim Walz on SNL, Issues Statement

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As a long-time admirer of Steve Martin‘s exceptional talent, I can’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment at his decision to decline playing Tim Walz on Saturday Night Live. His humor, charisma, and versatility have always made him an ideal choice for such roles, especially during election years when the stakes are high and the laughs are plentiful.

Steve Martin publicly shared his reasons for declining Lorne Michaels’ invitation to portray Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as Kamala Harris’ running mate in a sketch on Saturday Night Live.

During election seasons, some of the most financially rewarding roles on SNL involve portraying significant political figures. As soon as Walz was named Kamala Harris’ running mate, people started discussing who might portray him on SNL, with Maya Rudolph returning as Kamala Harris.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve got to say, the crowd favorite was none other than the iconic comedian, scriptwriter, and banjo maestro – Steve Martin. Now, there’s a certain resemblance he shares with Governor Tim Walz that’s hard to ignore. Martin himself poked fun at this likeness on social media, jokingly commenting, “Just found out Tim Walz wants to hit the road with Marty Short. I’m game if he is!”

On the assumption that Martin was the ideal candidate, the producer of Saturday Night Live quickly reached out to him for the role of Walz in the show. However, Martin showed little interest and rejected the proposition.

Steve Martin rules out playing Tim Walz

In a statement to the LA Times, Martin said,

In a different phrasing, here’s how the statement could be rewritten: “I actually intended to decline, and it so happened that he wanted me to refuse as well. When I said, ‘Lorne, I’m not an impressionist; you need someone who can truly capture the essence of the character,’ I was chosen for the role because I have gray hair and glasses.”

Beyond that, Martin felt it was a bit too much of a commitment.

As a devoted admirer, I can tell you that it’s not a one-time gig, where you perform and then bask in the applause forevermore. It requires an authentic impressionist to keep delivering consistently exceptional performances. They’re on the hunt for someone truly exceptional – someone who could give me a run for my money! Frankly, I’d be hard-pressed to maintain that level of skill.

It doesn’t mean we won’t be seeing Martin on the show again soon. In fact, Saturday Night Live is set to kick off its 50th season on September 28, 2024. Given that this milestone season is approaching, it’s quite possible that we’ll see familiar faces from the show’s past reappearing for guest spots and skits.

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2024-08-08 12:40