Saturday Night Live parodies of Joe Biden

Last updated

The sketch comedy television series Saturday Night Live (SNL) has parodied President Joe Biden since 1991, covering his time as a United States Senator, his time as Vice President under President Barack Obama, during his campaign to defeat president Donald Trump for the presidency, and as the president of the United States.

Contents

To date, Biden has been portrayed by nine performers: Kevin Nealon, Jason Sudeikis, Woody Harrelson, John Mulaney, Jim Carrey, Alex Moffat, James Austin Johnson, Mikey Day, and Dana Carvey.

Kevin Nealon (1991)

Weekend Update anchor Kevin Nealon was the first to portray Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live . He did so during the show's seventeenth season on October 12, 1991, during the episode's cold open. The sketch centered around Clarence Thomas, who was in the process of becoming a member of the Supreme Court while tackling sexual harassment allegations from Anita Hill. It featured Tim Meadows as Thomas, Ellen Cleghorne as Hill, Dana Carvey as Strom Thurmond, Chris Farley as Howell Heflin, Phil Hartman as Edward Kennedy, and Nealon as Biden. The segment followed the Senate Judiciary Committee as they mocked Thomas for failing to date Hill, and as they traded dating advice with each other. [1] [2]

Jason Sudeikis (2007–2021)

Jason Sudeikis was the second performer to portray Biden on SNL, doing so from November 3, 2007, to October 23, 2021. In his portrayal, Sudeikis said "the outgoingness and gregariousness" of his performance was inspired by his father, whom Sudeikis felt bore similarities to Biden in that they were both "people person[s]". [3]

Woody Harrelson (2019)

Woody Harrelson was the third performer to portray Biden on SNL, doing so for three episodes, on September 28, October 12, and November 23, 2019.

John Mulaney (2020)

John Mulaney was the fourth performer to portray Biden on SNL. He replaced both Sudeikis and Harrelson for the role on February 29, 2020, which he hosted as part of the forty-fifth season of the show. [4]

Jim Carrey (2020)

Carrey's portrayal of Biden saw criticism for its energeticism, but also praise for portraying Biden's perceived "creepiness". Jim Carrey as Joe Biden.jpg
Carrey's portrayal of Biden saw criticism for its energeticism, but also praise for portraying Biden's perceived "creepiness".

Jim Carrey portrayed Biden for the beginning of the forty-sixth season of SNL. [5] [6] Carrey first appeared as Biden on October 3, 2020. [7] Throughout the season, Carrey's Biden appeared frequently alongside his real-life running mate Kamala Harris, portrayed by Maya Rudolph. [8] [9] On December 19, 2020, Carrey announced that he would step down from playing Biden, saying he only ever intended to play him for six weeks. [10]

Carrey's portrayal of Biden garnered mixed reactions from both viewers and critics. [11] [12] [13] [14] Criticisms of Carrey's performance characterized it as being too energetic, which contrasted with the actual Biden, who was perceived as "slow and boring". [12] Cartoonist Rob Rogers remarked Carrey got aspects of his portrayal right, such as Biden's vocal inflections and "creepiness," but failed to capture "the whole thing." [12] Writing for Vanity Fair , Karen Valby summarized her issue with Carrey's performance, "[Carrey] gives a bad Joe Biden when the country has never needed a good Joe Biden more." [11]

Alex Moffat (2020–2021)

Alex Moffat replaced Carrey to portray Biden on December 19, 2020. [15]

James Austin Johnson (2021–2022)

James Austin Johnson debuted his Biden impersonation during SNL's Season 47 premiere. [16]

Mikey Day (2023–24)

Beginning with the third episode of season 49, veteran cast member Mikey Day took over impersonating Biden.

Dana Carvey (2024-present)

With the premiere of 50th season, former cast member Dana Carvey took over the role of Joe Biden (Carvey had done the impressions several times outside of SNL).

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Carrey</span> Canadian and American actor (born 1962)

James Eugene Carrey is a Canadian and American actor and comedian known for his energetic slapstick performances. After spending the 1980s honing his comedy act and portraying mostly supporting roles in films, Carrey gained wide recognition in 1990 when he was cast in the American sketch comedy television series In Living Color (1990–1994). He broke out as a film star after starring in a string of box office hits with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber, which he followed up with Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and Batman Forever. The success of these five films led to Carrey being the first actor to receive a $20 million salary for performing in films, beginning with The Cable Guy (1996).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dana Carvey</span> American comedian and actor (born 1955)

Dana Thomas Carvey is an American stand-up comedian, actor, podcaster, screenwriter and producer.

<i>The Ambiguously Gay Duo</i> American TV series or program

The Ambiguously Gay Duo is an American animated comedy sketch that debuted on The Dana Carvey Show before moving to its permanent home on Saturday Night Live. It is created and produced by Robert Smigel and J. J. Sedelmaier as part of the Saturday TV Funhouse series of sketches. It follows the adventures of Ace and Gary, voiced by Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell, respectively, two superheroes whose sexual orientation is a matter of dispute, and a cavalcade of characters preoccupied with the question.

Hans and Franz are characters in a recurring sketch called "Pumping Up with Hans & Franz" on the television sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, played by Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon, respectively.

The following is a list of recurring Saturday Night Live sketches, organized alphabetically by title. The referenced date is the date when the sketch first appeared.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikey Day</span> American actor, comedian and writer (born 1980)

Michael William Day is an American actor and comedian. He was hired as a writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live before its 39th season in 2013. He was then promoted to on-air cast status and became a featured player during the show's 42nd season in 2016, later being promoted to repertory status beginning with the 44th season in 2018. Day is also the host of the Netflix show Is It Cake? He previously was an on-air correspondent for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Jay Leno Show.

<i>Saturday Night Live</i> season 12 Season of television series

The twelfth season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between October 11, 1986 and May 23, 1987.

<i>Saturday Night Live</i> parodies of Sarah Palin Television comedy sketches

The sketch comedy television show Saturday Night Live aired several critically acclaimed sketches parodying then Alaskan Governor and vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin in the lead-up to the 2008 United States presidential election. The sketches featured former cast member Tina Fey, who returned as a guest star to portray Palin. Fey won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her impersonation of Palin.

The following is a list of recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced between October 11, 1986, and May 23, 1987, the twelfth season of SNL.

<i>Saturday Night Live</i> 40th Anniversary Special Episode of the 40th season of Saturday Night Live

"Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special" is a three-and-a-half-hour prime-time special that aired on February 15, 2015, on NBC, celebrating Saturday Night Live's 40th year on the air, having premiered on October 11, 1975, under the original title NBC's Saturday Night. It is produced by Broadway Video. This special generated 23.1 million viewers, becoming NBC's most-watched prime-time, non-sports, entertainment telecast since the Friends series finale in 2004. It is the third such anniversary special to be broadcast, with celebratory episodes also held during the 15th and 25th seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Moffat</span> American actor and comedian

Alexander Everett Moffat is an American actor and comedian. He was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, where he debuted as a featured player during the show's 42nd season in 2016, alongside Mikey Day and Melissa Villaseñor. After two seasons as featured players, all three became repertory cast members in 2018, beginning with the show's 44th season. Moffat left SNL in 2022, after six years as a cast member. In 2023, he made his Broadway debut in The Cottage.

<i>Saturday Night Live</i> parodies of Donald Trump Television comedy series

The sketch comedy television series Saturday Night Live (SNL) has parodied Donald Trump since 1988, covering his time as a real estate broker to his popular run as host of The Apprentice, and during as well as after his presidency.

The forty-sixth season of the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live premiered on October 3, 2020, during the 2020–21 television season with host Chris Rock and musical guest Megan Thee Stallion, and concluded on May 22, 2021, with host Anya Taylor-Joy and musical guest Lil Nas X. With the previous season cut short amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the show instead airing three remotely produced episodes referred to as Saturday Night Live at Home, the season premiere marked the return to Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Lorne Michaels said that the show aimed to have a "limited" in-studio audience, and that they would "work closely with Gov. Cuomo's team."

Saturday Night Live parodies of George H. W. Bush began in 1980 with his vice presidency under Ronald Reagan. The portrayals continued through his presidential campaigns in 1980, 1988, and 1992. SNL has aired dozens of George H. W. Bush parodies by several actors including Jim Downey, Fred Armisen, and Dana Carvey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public image of Joe Biden</span> Public perception of U.S. politician Joe Biden

Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States, has been in the national spotlight for over half a century, ever since he won his first election to the United States Senate in 1972. Biden is seen as a figure with the tendency to commit gaffes. His capacity for empathy has been noted, as has his tendency for exaggeration. Biden's approval ratings as president started strong, but declined after the fall of Kabul on August 15, 2021. As the oldest president in US history, Biden's age and health have been the subject of discussion, with some polls finding the issue a subject of concern to a significant majority of Americans. A long-standing parody of Biden by The Onion, popular during his time as Barack Obama's vice president, is thought by some to have contributed positively to his public image.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Austin Johnson</span> American comedian and actor

James Austin Johnson, occasionally known by his initials, JAJ, is an American comedian and actor. Johnson is currently a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy television series Saturday Night Live, which he joined as a featured player for the show's 47th season in 2021. On SNL, he has impersonated both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Johnson was promoted to a repertory player in 2023.

The fiftieth season of the American sketch comedy late night television program Saturday Night Live premiered on September 28, 2024 on NBC and Peacock, with host Jean Smart and musical guest Jelly Roll. In addition to the standard episodes hosted by celebrity guests and featuring musical acts, the series will also have several months of acknowledgements, leading to a three-hour celebratory 50th anniversary special retrospective, which is set to air on February 16, 2025.

References

  1. ↑ M. Andrews, Travis (September 27, 2018). "'SNL's' 1991 Clarence Thomas sketch resonates today, but is it problematic in the #MeToo era?". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  2. ↑ Leo, Alex (August 16, 2009). "Franken's First Time Around: Comedian-Turned-Senator Questioned "Clarence Thomas" In 1991 SNL Sketch (VIDEO)". HuffPost . Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  3. ↑ Cavna, Michael (January 19, 2017). "As Joe Biden exits, comedy bids farewell to a one-man gold mine". The Washington Post . Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  4. ↑ "John Mulaney as Joe Biden". SNL Archives. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  5. ↑ White, Peter (September 16, 2020). "'SNL': Jim Carrey Set To Play Joe Biden As NBC Show Adds Three Featured Players & Will Have Limited Audience". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  6. ↑ Sharf, Zack (September 16, 2020). "Jim Carrey Is Playing Joe Biden on 'SNL' after Pitching the Role Himself". IndieWire . Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  7. ↑ Geier, Thom (November 7, 2020). "6 Actors Who've Played Joe Biden on Screen, From Greg Kinnear to Jim Carrey (Photos)". TheWrap . Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  8. ↑ Seemayer, Zach (November 7, 2020). "'Saturday Night Live': Jim Carrey's Joe Biden and Maya Rudolph's Kamala Harris Celebrate Election Victory". Entertainment Tonight . Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  9. ↑ Patten, Dominic (November 7, 2020). "'SNL' Sees Alec Baldwin's Donald Trump Declare "This Isn't Goodbye"; Jim Carrey's Joe Biden & Maya Rudolph's Kamala Harris Take A Swing At Sting & Declare Victory". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  10. ↑ Porter, Rick (December 19, 2020). "Jim Carrey Stepping Down From Joe Biden Role on 'SNL'". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  11. 1 2 Valby, Karen (October 18, 2020). "Saturday Night Live Has a Jim Carrey Problem". Vanity Fair . Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  12. 1 2 3 Cavna, Michael (October 30, 2020). "Why Jim Carrey's Biden impersonation on SNL isn't quite catching on". The Washington Post . Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  13. ↑ Ali, Lorraine (November 12, 2020). "Commentary: Joe Biden won the election, but Jim Carrey's impression of him is 'SNL' fans' loss". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  14. ↑ Berman, Judy (October 5, 2020). "Can We Joke About the President Having COVID-19? Late-Night Comedy Can't Decide". Time . Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  15. ↑ Andrews-Dyer, Helena (December 20, 2020). "SNL introduces a new Joe Biden after Jim Carrey announced the end of his stint". The Washington Post . Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  16. ↑ Turchiano, Danielle (October 2, 2021). "SNL Starts Season 47 With James Austin Johnson Debuting as Joe Biden". Variety . Retrieved October 2, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.