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Bowen Yang Discusses Challenges of Playing J.D. Vance on SNL

Bowen Yang, the 34-year-old comedian and podcaster, recently revealed that he urged Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels not to cast him in the role of J.D. Vance, the Vice President of the United States, during a segment on The Daily Show. His comments shed light on the complexities and pressures of portraying a high-profile political figure.

During his appearance on the April 10 episode, Yang expressed his reluctance to take on Vance’s character. “Lorne asked me and I said, ‘Please, please, please don’t make me do this,’” he recalled. The comedian seemed genuinely apprehensive about stepping into the shoes of such a prominent politician.

Yang acknowledged the challenges inherent in embodying someone like Vance, stating, “First of all — God’s honest truth, I really do my best with him, but every time I have to play him, I go to Lorne and say, ‘You can do a buyback. You don’t have to stick with me. Please reach out to Zach Galifianakis. Please reach out to Taran Killam.’ But, no, that’s my charge.” This reveals Yang’s awareness of the demands of the role and his desire for an alternative approach.

To ensure his portrayal was authentic, Yang went above and beyond by enlisting an accent coach to refine his vocal delivery. He explained, “We had to find the middle between Appalachian but Ohio. Like, we really had to find the right [voice]. And I was like, ‘I don’t want to screw this up.’” His dedication to accuracy demonstrates a desire to represent the character in a respectful and credible manner.

The Wicked actor further reflected on the unique challenges of his casting, noting, “Everyone in America is going to be like, ‘This Asian guy is playing that guy?’ I was like, ‘I really gotta nail this down.’ And I’m just telling you guys, I’m doing my best, okay?” This statement highlights the intersectionality of race and representation in comedic portrayals, particularly in political satire.

Yang is no stranger to embodying controversial political figures; in addition to Vance, he has also portrayed disgraced New York congressman George Santos, which quickly gained popularity among viewers.

Beyond his role on SNL, Yang is also promoting his upcoming film, The Wedding Banquet, a modern remake of Ang Lee’s 1993 comedy. In this new version, Yang plays Chris, a man in a complicated arrangement involving his Korean boyfriend, who proposes to their lesbian roommate to secure his residency in the U.S. The plot thickens with the unexpected arrival of the boyfriend’s traditional grandmother, who is unaware of her grandson’s sexual orientation. The cast also includes Lily Gladstone and Star Wars star Kelly Marie Tran.

The film, directed by Andrew Ahn, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27. During a Q&A session following the screening, Yang noted that the cast engaged with the Showtime series Couples Therapy to explore the dynamics of relationships while preparing for their roles. “It accelerated our bonding and it just all kind of glued us together in a way that transcended even what Andrew was able to give to us as a director,” he shared.

The Wedding Banquet is set to hit theaters on April 18, marking yet another milestone in Yang’s diverse career.

Source
people.com