Dana Carvey took on the challenge of impersonating Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live, and it wasn’t exactly easy.
The comedian, now 70, shared his thoughts on adopting a “sensitivity” approach to portraying the 82-year-old former President during the show’s 50th season on the podcast Fly On the Wall.
“I was aware of some mental challenges, which was clear,” Carvey remarked. “But there’s a delicate balance in comedy, you know?”
He continued his reflection, embracing the complexity of the situation.
“But it’s comedy!” asserted guest Julie Bowen, to which Carvey seemed to nod in agreement.
“If Biden can pull it off, if he can connect with people, then I feel like I’ve succeeded,” he explained. “To really engage, it had to feel relatable, and there were certain elements I decided to leave out.”
The whole experience of impersonating Biden felt, as he described it, “surreal,” “odd,” and sometimes even “quite enjoyable.”
David Spade, Carvey’s co-host and fellow SNL veteran, suggested that Biden’s role as President made it easier to poke fun at him, saying, “If he’s the President, it’s fair game—much easier than teasing a 90-year-old guy.”
Carvey made his debut as Biden in the premiere episode of Season 50 in September, sharing the stage with Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris and Andy Samberg as her husband, Douglas Emhoff, along with other notable characters.
Earlier, Carvey mentioned that Lorne Michaels, the creator of SNL, encouraged him to take on the role after hearing him impersonate politicians on a podcast.
“I didn’t see enough impressions of Biden,” Carvey said. “Many have tackled Trump, like Shane Gillis and James Austin Johnson. But Biden is more challenging.”
Over the years, various comedians, including Jason Sudeikis, Woody Harrelson, Jim Carrey, and Mikey Day, have notably portrayed Biden on SNL.
