Steve Martin has declined an offer from “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels to portray Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on the show’s upcoming 50th season. Despite fans urging Martin to take on the role due to his resemblance to Walz, Martin felt that he wasn’t the right fit for the part. In a conversation with Michaels, Martin expressed that he is not an impressionist and that the role would require someone who could accurately capture Walz’s character. “I was picked because I have gray hair and glasses,” Martin explained.
The time commitment was also a significant factor in his decision. Martin noted that playing a character like Walz would require ongoing appearances, not just a one-time performance. “It’s not like you do it once and get applause and never do it again. They need a real impressionist to do that. They’re gonna find somebody really, really good. I’d be struggling,” Martin said.
Adding to his packed schedule, Martin is currently touring with his “Only Murders in the Building” co-star Martin Short on their “Dukes of Funnytown” tour. This tour, which has shows scheduled on several weekends between the “SNL” season premiere on September 28 and election day on November 5, likely influenced his decision to pass on the role.
The news of Martin turning down the “SNL” gig coincided with a joke he posted on Threads, poking fun at his resemblance to Walz. “I just learned that Tim Walz wants to go on the road with Marty Short,” he wrote.
While fans won’t see Martin as Walz, “SNL” veteran Maya Rudolph is set to return as Vice President Kamala Harris. Social media has already started speculating about other potential contenders to play Walz, with names like Jim O’Heir, John Goodman, Jim Gaffigan, and Danny DeVito being floated.
