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Bowen Yang has been making audiences laugh on Saturday Night Live for years, but his latest impression is one he’d gladly hand off. The Emmy-nominated comedian opened up about the challenges of playing Republican vice president J.D. Vance, a role he’s taken on since September 2024. And according to Yang, it hasn’t been easy—or enjoyable.
Speaking with Desi Lydic on The Daily Show, Yang admitted he tried to avoid the role from the start. He even asked showrunner Lorne Michaels to recast it.
“Please, please, please don’t make me do this.”
Yang recalled saying. But Michaels didn’t budge, and Yang has been donning the Vance persona on Saturday Night Live ever since.
He said that it was especially hard given that he bore little resemblance to Vance. He said,
"I have such an uphill battle here. Everyone in America is going to be like, 'This Asian guy is playing that guy?' I was like, 'I really got to nail this down.'"
From mastering a specific regional accent to tackling stereotypes, Yang has stated the role is an extremely challenging one. Though he’s committed to doing his best, the Saturday Night Live journey has made one thing clear—playing J.D. Vance on Saturday Night Live has been more struggle than satire.
Why Bowen Yang didn’t want to play J.D. Vance on
Saturday Night Live
When Lorne Michaels asked Bowen Yang to portray J.D. Vance on Saturday Night Live, Yang’s first reaction wasn’t excitement. It was dread.
“I said to Lorne, ‘You can do a buyback.’”
Yang told The Daily Show.
“You don’t have to stick with me.”
The comedian knew from the start that Vance was going to be a hard character to crack.
It wasn’t just politics. Yang felt Vance lacked a strong personality, which made it difficult to find a comic angle. To prepare, Yang even watched Hillbilly Elegy, a film based on Vance’s memoir. One moment that stood out showed a young Vance questioning his sexuality, only to be dismissed. To Yang, that scene suggested Vance learned to shut down parts of himself, leaving little for a comedian to latch onto.
Yang didn’t want to phone it in—but he also wasn’t convinced he was the right person for the job.
The accent dilemma: mixing Appalachian and Ohio for comedy
Impersonating a public figure on Saturday Night Live always comes with its own set of challenges. But for Bowen Yang, getting J.D. Vance’s voice just right was its own mini project. Vance’s accent doesn’t fall into a clear category. It’s somewhere between Appalachian and Ohio—two speech patterns that are close, but not identical.
“I worked with an accent coach”
Yang explained that he knew how important it was to avoid sounding fake or forced. Getting it wrong could come off as mocking rather than funny. So, he aimed for authenticity. He said,
“We really had to find the right middle.”
Still, Yang admitted that learning Vance’s mannerisms and voice added a layer of pressure.
“I was like, I don’t want to screw this up.”
For someone known for pitch-perfect impressions, this one was especially tough. Yet Yang kept at it, determined to make it work on Saturday Night Live.
Bowen Yang offered up replacements, but no one took the bait
It’s not every day a cast member on Saturday Night Live volunteers to give up a role. But that’s exactly what Bowen Yang did—multiple times. Yang said he even pitched ideas for who could replace him as J.D. Vance. Among his suggestions? Taran Killam, a former Saturday Night Live cast member known for playing politicians, and Zach Galifianakis, whose oddball humor could give the character a fresh spin.
“Please reach out to Zach Galifianakis.”
Yang even offered another alternative,
“Please reach out to Taran Killam.”
But Lorne Michaels didn’t go for it. The part remained Yang’s “charge,” as he put it.
Though he was willing to pass the baton, Yang has stuck with it. It’s clear he cares about getting it right. Even if it’s not his dream assignment, he’s committed to doing the work. Still, the fact that he keeps bringing up replacements? That says a lot about how hard the role has been.
Bowen Yang keeps showing up—even when it’s tough
Despite his reluctance, Bowen Yang hasn’t walked away from the role. Each week on Saturday Night Live, he shows up, wig on, lines memorized, and accent tuned. It’s not easy, and he’s made that clear. But he’s still giving it everything he’s got. He said on The Daily Show,
“I’m just telling you guys—I’m doing my best.”
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And it shows. Even if J.D. Vance isn’t the easiest character to satirize, Yang is committed to making it work. He’s not phoning it in. He’s pushing through the awkwardness, the accent, and even the public perception.
That kind of dedication is part of what makes Yang one of the most respected cast members on Saturday Night Live right now. Whether he keeps playing Vance or hands the role off to someone else, he’s already made a lasting impression.
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