Tim Walz turned the tables on his Saturday Night Live counterpart last night.
The Minnesota governor and former vice presidential candidate made a surprise appearance at comedian Jim Gaffigan’s standup show in Minneapolis Wednesday night, where he got some friendly payback for the four episodes of SNL in which Gaffigan impersonated him.
To kick off his first of several shows at Minneapolis’ Orpheum Theatre, Gaffigan was announced to the stage only for Walz to walk out in his place.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Walz told the crowd after an extended applause. “I’m more handsome in person.”
“But I tell ya, I gotta talk a little about the Runza sandwich tonight,” he added, referencing Gaffigan’s typically food-heavy shtick. “I think you know the food thing is a pretty big deal with me.”
That’s when the actual Gaffigan came out to interrupt him. “Finally, some visibility for white men,” Gaffigan joked.
Before exiting the stage, Walz expressed his appreciation for Gaffigan’s portrayal of him on SNL during his brief campaign—which the governor dubbed his “90-day Eras tour.”
“It was a very bizarre 90 days,” Walz said. “One of the most surreal and honest and fun was turning on Saturday Night Live to Jim Gaffigan playing me.”
Gaffigan debuted his Walz impression last fall on SNL’s Season 50 premiere. He ultimately played Walz on four of the show’s first five episodes.
But while the real Kamala Harris appeared on the show to meet Maya Rudolph’s version of her, Walz and Gaffigan had not met until last night.
“Really enjoyed meeting him and his team,” Gaffigan wrote on social media. “FYI I’ve never seen a politician greeted by his constituents the way Governor Walz was tonight.”
Walz later shared video of his surprise quickturn as a comic, which can be viewed below. “Like looking in a mirror,” Walz wrote.
Like looking in a mirror. pic.twitter.com/Ho9xacOcMG
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) February 27, 2025
