The comedian keeps trying to do one impersonation that is just too obscure for &34;Saturday Night Live.&34; James Austin Johnson can't get his best impression on SNL: 'It's always a resounding no' The comedian keeps trying to do one impersonation that is just too obscure for &34;Saturday Night Live.&34; By Jillian Sederholm Jillian Sederholm Jillian Sederholm is news director at . She has worked at EW for more than eight years. Jillian has previously worked as a reporter, social media editor, and homepage producer at NBC News, Digital First Media, Newsday, and Random Lengths News.

The comedian keeps trying to do one impersonation that is just too obscure for "Saturday Night Live."

James Austin Johnson can't get his best impression on SNL: 'It's always a resounding no'

The comedian keeps trying to do one impersonation that is just too obscure for "Saturday Night Live."

By Jillian Sederholm

Jillian Sederholm

Jillian Sederholm is news director at *. *She has worked at EW for more than eight years. Jillian has previously worked as a reporter, social media editor, and homepage producer at NBC News, Digital First Media, Newsday, and *Random Lengths News.*

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January 3, 2026 4:00 p.m. ET

James Austin Johnson at 'SNL50' on Feb. 16, 2025. Credit:

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 on *SNL*, but he keeps getting shot down because it's just too obscure.

After show alum Fred Armisen revealed during a panel for the Television Academy earlier this year that his own impression of* This American Life *host Ira Glass never made it past *SNL *dress 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---.'"

Fred Armisen, Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Bowen Yang, Sarah Sherman, James Austin Johnson, and Chloe Fineman at the Television Academy on June 2, 2025.

Todd Williamson/NBC

Johnson was joined on the June 2 panel by his *SNL *season 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.

"Longtime *Rolling Stone* editor David Fricke," Johnson declared, naming the music journalist who has had an illustrious career but may not be a familiar voice to the average *SNL* viewer.**

"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.**

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"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 Live* is currently on winter hiatus before making its expected return sometime in January with new episodes.

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW SNL"

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Source: SNL

Published: January 05, 2026 at 08:57AM on Source: RON MAG

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