Jim Carrey to play Joe Biden on ‘Saturday Night Live’

When Saturday Night Live returns to the Studio 8H stage at 30 Rockefeller this fall, there will be a new celebrity popping up for political skits. Creator Lorne Michaels has confirmed that Canadian-born comedian and actor Jim Carrey will portray US Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Alrighty, then! Please, please, please let this reoccurring casting continue the entire season and not just up until November 3.Michaels spoke to Vulture this month about what’s in store for the upcoming 46th season of the live sketch show and confirmed Carrey’s new role. “It came down to discussions of what his [Carrey’s] take was … He will give the part energy and strength, and [Laughs] hopefully it’s funny.” Um, yeah. It’s going to be funny. Of the many things to be concerned about in 2020, whether or not Jim Carrey can pull off a great impression that is funny and entertaining does not make our list.Previous to Michaels making the not-at-all difficult decision to cast ‘up-and-coming’ comedian Jim Carrey as Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee was played by John Mulaney, Jason Sudeikis and Woody Harrelson.Michaels also told Vulture that Alec Baldwin will reprise his role as Donald Trump. Michaels also confirmed that fans will get to see much more of former SNL cast member Maya Rudolph in her Emmy-nominated role as US Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris. In the words of the great Maya Rudolph, “Oh s***.”Carrey’s relationship with SNL dates back decades. The actor first hosted the sketch show in 1998, and returned again in 2011 when he delivered one of the best episodes of the 2000’s, which included the instantly-iconic performance of Sia’s “Chandelier” music video. But Carrey’s history with the show goes back even further than his hosting gigs. Carrey audition to be on SNL in the early 1980s, but was passed over by the casting director. Ten years later, Carrey was cast in the rival sketch show In Living Color and created some of the most iconic roles in television history. Remember that any time you hear ‘no.’ Someone once told Jim Carrey he wasn’t funny enough for SNL.Just last week, SNL announced that they would be returning to the studio for the upcoming season. On September 10, Saturday Night Live confirmed the new season will premiere on October 3 with a limited in-studio audience.

 

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The show has not announced the first set of hosts or musical guests, but in addition to Carrey’s casting news, Michaels has also confirmed the addition of three new cast members. SNL writer and comedian Andrew Dismukes, comedian and actor Lauren Holt, and stand up comedian and actor Punkie Johnson have all been added to the Season 46 roster. Saturday Night Live finished their 45th season with three at-home episodes that were filmed in the spring. In a largely unprecedented move, no cast members left at the end of the season and all players will be returning this fall.