Dana Carvey Discusses His Careful Approach to Joe Biden Impression on SNL
Dana Carvey faced a unique challenge while impersonating Joe Biden on "Saturday Night Live." The comedian, now 70, recently elaborated on his nuanced approach during an episode of his podcast, "Fly on the Wall."

“I knew that he was compromised mentally. I mean, it was obvious,” Carvey remarked, reflecting on the former president's public persona. “But it was a delicate thing in the comedy world.”

His comments highlight the tension between humor and sensitivity. “There were a lot of people who did not want to do anything that would kind of ding him in an awkward way,” he added, acknowledging the complexities of political satire.

Julie Bowen, a guest on the podcast, interjected with a reminder: “But it’s comedy!” Carvey nodded in agreement, emphasizing the importance of making Biden relatable and humorous. “That’s the key; if I can do Biden, if I can make Biden funny to everybody, then I am where I want to be,” he explained. “And to make it funny, it had to be recognizable. And so there were certain things I did not include in my package.”

Describing the experience as “surreal” and “bizarre,” Carvey also noted that it was “at times a lot of fun.” His co-host, David Spade, weighed in on the matter, suggesting that Biden’s position as president made him “fair game” for comedic critique.

Spade stated, “I think it’s easier to make fun of him if he’s the president than if it’s just a 90-whatever-year-old man and just go, ‘Look at this a–hole.’ So once he’s president, he’s more fair game. But no one made fun of him forever.”

Carvey debuted his Biden impression during the Season 50 premiere of "SNL" in September. The episode also featured notable appearances from Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris and Andy Samberg as her husband, Douglas Emhoff.

Previously on "Fly on the Wall," Carvey revealed that Lorne Michaels, the creator of "SNL," encouraged him to take on the role after hearing his impressions on the podcast. “I didn’t see it out there enough, a Biden impression,” Carvey noted. “A lot of brilliant Trumps, Shane [Gillis], James Austin Johnson. Biden is trickier.”
Over the years, other comedians have also taken their turn at spoofing Biden, including Jason Sudeikis and Woody Harrelson, showcasing the ongoing evolution of political satire on the iconic show.