Steve Martin is making it clear that he's not keen on stepping into the shoes of Kamala Harris' running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, for "Saturday Night Live" – even though fans are hoping he might.
When Harris announced that Walz would be joining her on the campaign trail, it set off a buzz that reached all the way to Hollywood. Martin, known for his comedic genius, was approached by "SNL" producer Lorne Michaels to bring Walz to life on the iconic sketch show. But Martin quickly made it clear that he's not the guy for the job.
“I wanted to say no and, by the way, he wanted me to say no,” Martin told the Los Angeles Times. It’s a fascinating peek behind the curtain of "SNL" casting. “I said, '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,” he explained, underlining that his casting would be more about appearance than performance.
The role of Walz on "SNL" isn't a one-off gig; it’s a recurring commitment, which Martin noted doesn’t fit into his packed schedule. “It’s ongoing. It’s not like you do it once and get applause and never do it again,” he said. Martin clearly feels that “SNL” deserves someone with a real knack for impressions to take on Walz. “They’re going to find somebody really, really good. I’d be struggling,” he added, showing his commitment to maintaining the high standards of the show.
As soon as Harris introduced Walz as her running mate, Martin sparked a bit of speculation on social media. Over on Threads, he made a playful comment that hinted at a possible collaboration with his “Only Murders in the Building” co-star Martin Short. “I just learned that Tim Walz wants to go on the road with Marty Short,” Martin posted, which set fans’ imaginations alight.
The mention of Short led to a flurry of comments on X (formerly Twitter), with fans excitedly discussing the possibility of Martin taking on the role of Walz. One enthusiastic user asked, “So Steve Martin is definitely gonna play Walz on ‘SNL’ right?” while another urged, “‘SNL’ get Steve Martin on the phone NOW.” It’s clear that there’s a lot of love for Martin’s potential portrayal, even if he’s not on board.
In the latest twist, Deadline reported that Maya Rudolph is set to return to "Saturday Night Live" as Kamala Harris for the show’s landmark 50th season. Rudolph, who first took on the role in 2019 during Harris’s bid for the Democratic nomination, will once again bring her sharp comedic chops to the Vice President’s role. The anticipation for this season is building, and fans are eagerly awaiting to see who will join Rudolph on stage.
In summary, while Steve Martin might be a beloved figure in comedy, it looks like he's not ready to take on the role of Tim Walz for "SNL." Instead, fans will have to wait and see who the show taps to bring the Minnesota governor to life. With Maya Rudolph returning and a new season on the horizon, there’s plenty of excitement to look forward to in the world of sketch comedy.
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