Home / Arts and Entertainment / Stars Slam SNL: Impersonations Too Mean, Unfunny?
Stars Slam SNL: Impersonations Too Mean, Unfunny?
18 Apr
Summary
- Several celebrities found their SNL impersonations to be mean or unfunny.
- Some stars like Sarah Palin and Barbara Walters eventually embraced their parodies.
- Celebrities criticize impersonations lacking nuance or accuracy on the show.
Saturday Night Live has a long history of satirizing public figures, but not all celebrities appreciate being the butt of the joke. Several stars have publicly criticized their SNL impersonations, with some finding them "mean and unfunny." Aimee Lou Wood called Sarah Sherman's portrayal of her "cheap," while Anderson Cooper felt his impression lacked nuance, focusing only on his sexuality.
Some figures, however, have learned to live with or even embrace their SNL counterparts. Sarah Palin, initially disliking Tina Fey's portrayal of her as an "idiot," later appeared on the show. Similarly, Barbara Walters eventually lightened up about Gilda Radner's "Baba Wawa" impression after her daughter's encouragement.
Other criticisms range from accuracy to tone. Sean Spicer, while finding Melissa McCarthy's impression funny, felt she could "dial it back." Mark Wahlberg didn't find Andy Samberg's impersonation accurate and felt SNL had lost its humor. Neil deGrasse Tyson suggested Kenan Thompson could improve his portrayal, while Britney Spears noted Ariana Grande's impression "could have been better."
