Dana Carvey loves making fun of people! He portrayed Joe Biden in numerous SNL skits, delighting viewers and occasionally cracking up cast members. He often partnered with Maya Rudolph, who would play Joe‘s former running mate, VP Kamala Harris. The two achieved comedic gold, making viewers roar with laughter at their antics and occasional fumbles. Now, Dana Carvey opens up about his impression of President Joe Biden.
Making Fun of Political Figures
So what has SNL (Saturday Night Live) NOT made fun of? With a show like this, everything gets picked on. Of course, SNL loves making light of current events, celebrities, controversial news, and the cream of the crop: politics.
Popular political targets have been Nixon, Reagan, both of the Bushes, Obama, Trump, and Biden. Vice Presidents and potential VPs have had their share of SNL treatment as well. Remember Tina Fey as Sarah Palin? Nailed it! So what’s Dana Carvey saying about President Biden?
Dana Carvey Reflects Back on Biden Skits
One of the better-known skits is from the SNL 50th season opener. Dana Carvey was a guest along with Maya Rudolph. In the opening sequence, Maya perfectly mocked Kamala‘s voice and nasally timbre, while Dana Carvey came in as a confused and doddering Joe Biden.
To play Biden, Carvey remarked it was a careful balance. On the June 26th edition of his “Fly on the Wall” podcast, he said:
I knew that he was compromised mentally…I mean, it was obvious. But it was a delicate thing in the comedy world. A lot of people did not want to do anything that would ding him in an awkward way.
His cohost, David Spade, said that if someone is the President, it’s a little fairer game, as this is a public figure. Dana Carvey further maintained that when he heard Biden alter between whispering and yelling, he thought “Oh, here we go.”
It’s a challenge to see friends, family, and acquaintances get older. It’s also extremely tough to see someone struggling with dementia, as Biden evidently did. During the last few years of his presidency, it was clear to see that Biden was having issues. In the latter part of the summer of 2024, Biden turned the campaign over to Harris.
What else does Carvey say now? He’s glad he got the chance to play Biden. He also claimed that Biden’s White House staffers loved the impression and he was invited there for lunch, but that never materialized.
