Italian
Dana Carvey’s surprise return to SNL: A masterclass in presidential impressions
A legendary comeback
Dana Carvey, the iconic comedian known for his uncanny impressions, made a surprise return to “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) last weekend. The Season 50 premiere saw Carvey stepping into the shoes of President Joe Biden, joining a star-studded cast that included Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz, Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff, Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris, Bowen Yang as JD Vance, and James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump. The cold open hilariously parodied the 2024 election candidates’ rallies, setting the tone for a season filled with political satire.
The secret preparation
Carvey revealed on his podcast, “Superfly,” co-hosted with David Spade, that his return to SNL was a well-kept secret. “It’s been top secret. I’ve kept it under wraps for weeks, but I was asked by Lorne Michaels to come on ‘Saturday Night Live’ … to do Biden,” Carvey shared. The comedian had been honing his Biden impression over time on the podcast, which eventually caught the attention of SNL’s creator, Lorne Michaels.
Crafting the perfect Biden
Carvey’s journey to perfecting his Biden impression was not straightforward. “I didn’t see it out there enough, a Biden impression,” Carvey noted. “There are a lot of brilliant Trumps — Shane [Gillis], James Austin Johnson. Biden is trickier … getting that high-energy part of him, and that didn’t come out until maybe six months into his first term when they asked him some question and he got kind of mad.”
The comedian emphasized the importance of humor over political messaging. “It sounds kind of corny, but the true North Star is to try to make it funny and not really get it to be a political message, per se,” Carvey explained.
The SNL performance
On SNL, Carvey’s Biden impression drew big laughs, especially when he stuttered while discussing the Build Back Better Plan, eventually exclaiming, “Can’t believe it’s not butter!” Carvey admitted that this line was spontaneous. “I didn’t write it down … that he would say, ‘I can’t believe it’s not butter!’ with declarative intent. I don’t know why,” Carvey told Spade. “It was ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ … and then you gave me one: ‘Bed, Bath and Beyond!,’ which is a good one too.”
The evolution of the impression
In a conversation with Al Franken, Carvey delved deeper into how his Biden impression evolved. “He was kind of like the friendly grandpa … ‘My father lost his job — no joke,'” Carvey said in a “soft Biden” voice. “That was just so funny, how he would say something that was utterly not funny — no human being would think a guy losing his job was a joke — but he has to tell us, ‘I’m not a stand-up comedian here. I’m not being funny. Father lost his job — no joke!'”
Carvey also noted the changes in Biden’s demeanor over time. “He doesn’t do this anymore, but during the primaries it was the list,” Carvey added, before going into the impression: “Number one, the one part. Number two, what the guy said. Number three, come on, you know the drill. Folks, let’s get real. I’m being serious now!”
The new rhythm
Carvey’s Biden impression evolved from “whispery” and “gentle” to a louder, more vigorous tone as the president faced questions about his energy. “That was a new rhythm for me. I’d never seen him go that loud,” Carvey said. “The final one, which my father used to do, was this whispery, ‘Don’t you get it folks?'”
As Carvey began to seamlessly merge his four “rhythms” for Biden, he remarked, “That’s my ‘Not gonna do it’ for Biden,” referencing his iconic impression of former president George H. W. Bush in the 1990s.
A legacy of impressions
Carvey was a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” from 1986 to 1993, and he last appeared on stage at Studio 8H in a 2016 cameo. Over the years, Biden has been portrayed by various actors on SNL, including Jim Carrey, James Austin Johnson, Alex Moffat, and Mikey Day.
“SNL” continues to be a platform for political satire and comedic brilliance. The show returns on October 5 with host Nate Bargatze and musical guest Coldplay.
Did you enjoy this article? Share it on your social channels and let us know your thoughts! Don’t miss out on the latest updates! Follow us on social media to stay informed about the newest releases.
