Steve Martin, the legendary comedian, has declined an offer to play Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on "Saturday Night Live" (SNL). Martin was approached by SNL producer Lorne Michaels to play Walz, who is the running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. However, Martin politely declined the offer, citing his lack of experience as an impressionist.
"I'm not an impressionist," Martin told The Times. "You need someone who can really nail the guy." Martin, who will turn 79 next week, was not willing to commit to playing Walz throughout the election cycle. "It's ongoing," he said. "It's not like you do it once and get applause and never do it again."
Martin's decision leaves the door open for another comedian to take on the role. Maya Rudolph, who will reprise her portrayal of Harris, is set to return to SNL for its 50th season, which premieres on September 28. Rudolph has been playing Harris since 2019, when she first appeared on the show during the Democratic presidential primaries.
It's unclear who will ultimately play Walz on SNL, but Martin's decision ensures that the show will find a talented impressionist to take on the role.
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