Steve Martin Responds to Lorne Michaels Request for Him to Play Tim Walz on SNL

Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP; AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) made quite an impression right out of the gate after Vice President Kamala Harris chose him to be her running mate. But then the question was raised: Who would play him on Saturday Night Live alongside Maya Rudolph?

The internet campaigned for Steve Martin, who does bear a resemblance to the affable, white-haired Midwesterner. And Martin is, to be sure, funny. But as he told The Los Angeles Times, he didn’t think he’d be the best guy for the job — even after Lorne Michaels offered it to him on Wednesday:

I wanted to say no and, by the way, he wanted me to say no. 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 added that it wasn’t just about the impression, it was also about scheduling:

It’s ongoing. It’s not like you do it once and get applause and never do it again. Again, they need a real impressionist to do that. They’re gonna find somebody really, really good. I’d be struggling.

Entertainment Weekly pointed out that Martin was already committed to “The Dukes of Funnytown” tour this fall with Martin Short, his fellow comedy legend and Only Murders in the Building co-star. Martin even acknowledged the internet’s interest in him playing Walz, posting on Threads on Wednesday: “I just learned that Tim Walz wants to go on the road with Marty Short.”

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