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James Austin Johnson says his best unaired impression is of David Fricke, the veteran Rolling Stone editor. His explanation for why it may not work on Saturday Night Live is straightforward: many viewers might not recognize Fricke’s voice. That is Johnson’s view of the challenge, not a confirmed explanation from SNL decision-makers.
Who is David Fricke, and why does Johnson rate the impression so highly?
Fricke is a longtime Rolling Stone editor, a figure familiar to music fans but less obviously recognizable to a broad television audience. In a January 2025 GQ interview, Johnson clarified that he had not done Fricke at his SNL audition. He called Fricke his best unaired sketch subject and said, “And you know what? I’m really proud of my David Fricke impression.”
Johnson also put the problem in terms of recognition: “I think it’s just hard to get a general audience to care about a veteran Rolling Stone editor.” He added, “People know Rolling Stone, but maybe not the specifics of David Fricke’s voice on a general population scale.” Those remarks describe Johnson’s own assessment; they do not establish that SNL rejected the pitch for that reason, or that the show has an official rule against impressions of less widely known people.
What does “can’t get it on SNL” actually mean?
The available account supports a distinction between Johnson’s pride in the impression and whether a sketch built around it gets made or aired. It does not document how many times he pitched Fricke, what was said in the room, or a specific decision by SNL staff. So the careful answer to “Why won’t SNL let him do it?” is that Johnson has described an audience-recognition concern, but the record does not confirm that as the show’s rationale for a rejection.
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Johnson’s repertoire is broader than one impression
Johnson told GQ that he performed 17 different people at his SNL audition. That number is his recollection, not an independently verified count. He described himself as a general comedian who enjoys impressions, rather than identifying strictly as an impressionist. A short example of his celebrity impressions appears in an official SNL Weekend Update segment.
Unaired sketches can face other obstacles
Johnson also described repeatedly pitching a sketch with Andrew Dismukes: Johnson would play Bob Dylan and Dismukes Bruce Springsteen during the recording of “We Are the World.” He told GQ, “I have pitched a Bob Dylan bit once or twice a season since I’ve been there, and then they’ve just never gone for it.” Johnson said the sketch worked at the table, but thought licensing the song would likely be difficult; he also did not think they could write a fictional substitute. The example shows how a sketch can fail to reach air for production reasons, not only because viewers might not know its subject.
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Another impression Johnson wanted to do: Kamala Harris
In January 2025, LateNighter reported that Johnson had wanted to be considered to play Kamala Harris on SNL and had raised the possibility with Lorne Michaels. He later performed “Kamala Harris hosting a cooking competition” on Late Night with Seth Meyers. That account establishes his stated interest and the later performance, not a formal SNL audition or rejection.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to watch SNL
NBCUniversal’s September 16, 2026 season 52 announcement lists Johnson among the returning cast and says SNL streams live on Peacock as well as airing on NBC. Broadcast and streaming availability or schedules can change.
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