Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson reveals that Steve Harvey wasn’t a fan of his impersonation at first. Thompson has the distinction of being the longest-tenured cast member in the history of SNL, making his debut in 2003 and remaining a staple of the comedy show ever since. During that time, Thompson has developed a slew of recurring characters and reliable celebrity impersonations. For many fans, Thompson’s parody of Family Feud stands out among the rest in how it allows both guest hosts and regular cast members to poke fun at the trending topics of the week.
Thompson’s parody of Family Feud debuted in the final weeks of 2013, with Thompson in the role of host Steve Harvey. Since then, at least once per season, SNL has utilized the sketch as an opportunity to mock singing competition shows, the Oscars, and political rivals. In an inspired bit, back in May 2019, when they were both dominating their respective mediums, SNL imagined what it would be like if the Avengers faced off against Game of Thrones. While the segment’s longevity is an indication of its appeal, Steve Harvey himself hasn’t always been too fond of how the sketches portray him.
As part of a THR roundtable discussion of comedy actors like Ricky Gervais and Ramy Youssef, Thompson shed some light on Harvey’s dislike of how he was depicted on SNL. Asked whether he hears from the famous faces he parodies, Thompson said that he does. While he notes that the feedback is typically positive, Thompson mentions the fact that Steve Harvey wasn’t “overly excited about it in the beginning, but he grew to love it.” Thompson’s explanation for how he became aware of Harvey’s feelings has been included below.
“He told me in different ways or he’d say it on his radio show and then people would call me and be like, 'Hey, Steve Harvey’s talking about you this morning on the radio,' and I’d be like, 'All right, well, I’m sure he’ll settle down once he realizes that I’m not attacking him.' But I remember we were kind of attacking Star Jones a little bit back in the day and she was not feeling that sh-t.”
Harvey’s initial reaction is understandable. Because of the influence that SNL has, and because the best celebrity impersonations tend to go viral, many viewers might be more familiar with Thompson’s parody of Family Feud than the real show. Given the time and effort Harvey spends on the game show, it makes sense that he wouldn’t warm up to Thompson’s embellished impersonation. Public figures have varied in their response to being skewered by NBC’s long-running sketch series, with some laughing along with the joke and others taking issue with their portrayal. Most, however, have agreed that it can be a little jarring to see a heightened version of themselves played by a comedic actor. Jennifer Aniston, for example, has alluded to the fact that Zach Galifianakis’ impression made her more aware of certain physical and tonal habits that she relied on.
It can be an uncomfortable experience for a celebrity to be see their flaws and quirks amplified on a popular television series. But, on the other hand, as Thompson mentions in his comments, SNL’s parodies are rarely executed in a mean and ungenerous manner. In a way, the impersonations are first and foremost a sign that a celebrity has risen enough in the public consciousness that a comedic portrayal would be recognized by the general audience. In the end, as Harvey realized himself, it’s something of a badge of honor to be impersonated on Saturday Night Live.
Source: THR