Jamie McCarthy/NBC
Saturday Night Live's resident master impressionist isn't allowed to do his best impression on the show.
James Austin Johnson, who regularly portrays President Donald Trump, has one impersonation that he's repeatedly attempted to do onSNL, but he keeps getting shot down because it's just too obscure.
After show alumFred Armisenrevealed during a panel for the Television Academy earlier this year that his own impression ofThis American Lifehost Ira Glass never made it pastSNLdress rehearsal because "it was explained to me that he wasn't famous enough," the current cast member piped up that he could relate.
"Fred, I get that a lot at the table," Johnson said, referring to the meeting where writers and cast members read through potential sketches to see what gets the best reception from the staff. "I get that a lot. 'Why are we doing this, honey?' Because I do the voice. 'Yeah, nobody gives a s---.'"
Todd Williamson/NBC
Johnson was joined on the June 2 panel by hisSNLseason 50 costars Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Bowen Yang, Sarah Sherman, and Chloe Fineman. (Nwodim and Gardner later left the show ahead of the current 51st season.)
Sherman urged the comedian to reveal to the live audience what voice he was talking about.
"LongtimeRolling Stoneeditor David Fricke," Johnson declared, naming the music journalist who has had an illustrious career but may not be a familiar voice to the averageSNLviewer.
"Wait, did you really, did you really do it?" Armisen asked, amused at the reference, as Johnson's colleagues nodded that he had.
"I've done it so many times. It's always a resounding no from everyone in the room," Johnson replied.
"We laugh," several of his costars insisted.
"You laugh, you laugh because it's like, 'Oh, look at James, he's doing his little cartwheel for us,'" he retorted, insisting, "It's my best voice. It's my best impression. I nailed that guy. It's just, you know, that people don't want to see it."
After the group egged him on to do the impression, he warned, "It's the most boring voice you've ever heard in your life," before providing a demonstration of Fricke discussing Paul McCartney.
Check out Johnson's impression of Fricke below:
Armisen asked if the impression had ever made it to a sketch performed at dress rehearsal.
"No, no, no, no," Johnson replied. "Every single time they've been like, 'You gotta stop submitting that s---. You gotta stop. There's no time.'"
For comparison, you can watch the real Fricke discussing McCartney himself below:
Saturday Night Liveis currently on winter hiatus before making its expected return sometime in January with new episodes.
Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly
