Martin's decision came after a discussion with the show's creator and producer, Lorne Michaels, following the announcement that Vice President Kamala Harris had selected the governor, who bears a striking resemblance to Martin, as her running mate.
In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Martin revealed the details of his conversation with Michaels. "I wanted to say no and, by the way, he wanted me to say no," Martin shared. He further explained his rationale, stating, "I said, 'Lorne, I’m not an impressionist. You need someone who can really nail the guy.’ I was picked because I have gray hair and glasses.”
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Martin also highlighted the significant time commitment required to portray a recurring character like Walz, which factored into his decision. "It’s ongoing,” he said. “It’s not like you do it once and get applause and never do it again. Again, they need a real impressionist to do that. They’re gonna find somebody really, really good. I’d be struggling.”
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The news of Martin's refusal coincided with a humorous post he made on Threads, subtly acknowledging his resemblance to Walz. "I just learned that Tim Walz wants to go on the road with Marty Short,” he wrote, referring to his co-star from "Only Murders in the Building" and current touring partner on their "Dukes of Funnytown" tour.
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August 09, 2024
The tour, which has several shows booked on weekends between the SNL season premiere on September 28 and election day on November 5, may have also influenced Martin's decision. Additionally, the tour could potentially complicate the show's fall casting, as Martin Short, who portrayed Vice President Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, in 2021, is also on the road with Martin.
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If Michaels were to approach Short to reprise his role as Emhoff, he would have limited Saturdays available before election day that wouldn't conflict with the tour. However, one of these dates coincides with the opening night of SNL's 50th season on September 28.
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Short, a former SNL cast member from 1984 to 1985, and Martin, who has hosted the show 16 times since his first appearance in 1976, have a long history with the show. Martin's hosting record is second only to Alec Baldwin, who has hosted on 17 separate occasions.
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While fans may be disappointed not to see Martin's portrayal of Walz, they can look forward to Maya Rudolph's return as Kamala Harris, as reported by Deadline. Rudolph's Apple TV+ series "Loot" has delayed pre-production due to "scheduling reasons," suggesting she will be occupied with SNL this fall.
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With Martin out of the running, speculation is rife about who will step into the role of Walz. Social media has suggested several potential candidates, including Jim O’Heir from “Parks and Rec,” John Goodman, Jim Gaffigan, and even Danny DeVito. The final decision, however, rests with Lorne Michaels.
