Earlier this week, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” creator Larry David sent social media into a frenzy over his impression of presidential candidate Bernie Sanders during the first Democratic presidential debate Oct. 13.
The tradition of impersonating political figures is a long one, and we’ve rounded up some of our favorites! First up, the most recent “SNL” political skit starring some of the show’s staple actors.
Taran Killam as Martin O’Malley; Kyle Mooney as Lincoln Chafee; Alec Baldwin as Jim Webb; Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton; and David as Sanders
The rug was lifted on what everyone watching the first Democratic presidential debate was thinking: From Clinton’s (entirely too) well-rehearsed responses to Webb’s assertion that he indeed did serve in the Vietnam War, all the way to Sanders’ exclamation that the American people are tired of “hearing about those damn emails,” “SNL” hit all the markers.
Jason Sudeikis as Joe Biden; Fred Armisen as Barack Obama; and Will Ferrell as George W. Bush
The vice president’s inferiority is the crux of this sketch starring Sudeikis and Armisen as Vice President Biden and President Obama, respectively. They hash out their power struggle after Obama takes credit for Biden’s initial support of gay marriage. Emerging from the closet for a surprise appearance is Ferrell doing his famous Bush impression.
Vaughn Meter as John F. Kennedy
Before the president’s assassination in 1963, Meter had a blossoming career as his impersonator. Here’s him answering questions like, “What would Vaughn Meter have done if Nixon had won in ’60?”
Tina Fey as Sarah Palin and Amy Poehler as Clinton
Before McKinnon moved into the “SNL” spotlight, Poehler was the go-to Clinton. And, Fey did the impression of Alaskan governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate Palin heard ’round the world. Watch the two do their knockout renditions of the politicians below.
Darrell Hammond as John McCain
Playing an out-of-touch McCain—(When he’s told about digital recordings, he asks if they were made with fingers)—Hammond stars opposite Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, and Sudeikis, in this “SNL” skit about recording campaign messages with the most sarcastic voiceover actor (Hader).
Dana Carvey as Obama, Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan
Back in 2012, Carvey flexed his impersonation muscles on late night TV with Conan O’Brien. Flipping between Obama, Bush, and Clinton impressions, he compares the different responses each president would have to the same issue.
Frank Caliendo as Bush and Clinton
Caliendo does a spot-on impression of the former presidents, one of which is the only one who, in Caliendo’s opinion, always looks like he’s staring directly into the sun. The comedian cracks jokes about the former U.S. leader’s intelligence and throws in a brief Clinton impersonation to boot.
Jay Pharoah as Obama
The comedian has come to prominence on “SNL” both for his humor and his dead-on impression of our current president. In this skit, he talks Russia’s occupation of Crimea and its possible secession from the Ukraine with Liam Neeson as his guest star. Because we all know how much Neeson hates when things are “Taken.”
Dan Aykroyd as Jimmy Carter
This hilarious Season 4 episode of “SNL” has Aykroyd trying to convince the American people that “inflation is our friend.”
Who are some of your favorites? Comment below!
Want a career in comedy? Learn how to refine your comic persona!
