Whoopi Goldberg recently opened up about her experiences with Saturday Night Live (SNL) impersonations during a lively appearance on The View, 

as the iconic sketch comedy show prepares for its 50th anniversary celebration. 

Joining Goldberg at the Hot Topics table were three former SNL stars—Laraine Newman, Julia Sweeney, 

and Leslie Jones—who shared their memories of being female cast members on the show and reflected on their time with the legendary program.

Jones, who famously portrayed Goldberg in a 2019 sketch titled “The View: Jenny McCarthy on Vaccines,” reminisced about her experience impersonating the co-host. 

But before Jones had the chance to embody Goldberg, veteran cast member Kenan Thompson had already made his mark with his portrayal of her.

Goldberg, who has long been known for her distinctive glasses, jokingly pointed out that if SNL was going to impersonate her, they at least had to get her signature eyewear right. During her appearance, she revealed that seeing both Thompson and Jones portray her on screen felt like “looking at myself twice.” This comment prompted Jones to express her excitement, saying, “He loved it, he loved it! He actually loved playing you.”

Thompson had famously impersonated Goldberg on SNL from 2008 to 2011, particularly during the show’s famous Hot Topics segments. He played Goldberg in several memorable sketches, including ones that parodied “The View” panel discussing topics like Disney Studios, Mel Gibson, and Kate Gosselin. To capture Goldberg’s essence, Thompson wore a long wig and her signature oversized black glasses, which became part of his comedic portrayal.

But Jones, who took on the role of Goldberg during the 2019 sketch, added her own twist. When Goldberg asked if Thompson had given Jones the iconic glasses, Jones revealed that the legendary talk show host had actually sent her a text message offering to bring her a pair of glasses better suited for the role. “No! I remember getting a text from you saying, ‘Imma bring you some glasses, ’cause you need to have better glasses when you doing this,’” Jones recalled, laughing. True to her word, Goldberg helped Jones elevate the look, sending over a pair of smaller green-framed glasses that marked a distinct departure from the large black ones worn by Thompson.

On a more serious note, Goldberg shared how refreshing it was to see a woman, rather than a man, play her role on SNL after years of male impersonations. She said that the shift to having women portray her and her co-host Joy Behar was an important milestone. “One of the things that we loved about when SNL did us was that finally women were playing us,” Goldberg noted. “Because for the longest time it was all these guys playing us,” she added, much to the agreement of her fellow co-host Joy Behar, who chimed in with, “You and me, you and me. We were played by guys.”

Behar herself was also a frequent target of male impersonation on SNL. Fred Armisen famously played Behar in the “The View: Disney Studios” sketch, while in more recent years, the role of Behar has been taken on by female cast members like Kate McKinnon and Sarah Sherman. Goldberg’s acknowledgment of these female portrayals highlighted a shift in how women were being represented on the show, something that Goldberg felt was a significant and long-awaited change.

The conversation also brought a touch of nostalgia for the two original co-hosts of The View. Reflecting on how SNL has evolved over the years, both Goldberg and Behar appreciated the show’s ability to adapt while still delivering memorable impersonations that capture their personalities. The conversation also underscored the importance of representation, with Goldberg expressing her gratitude for the women who have since taken on the challenge of playing her.

In the years since Thompson’s comedic impersonations of Goldberg, SNL has embraced a more inclusive approach, with female cast members like Ego Nwodim also stepping into the role. As Saturday Night Live marks its 50th anniversary, Goldberg and Behar’s reflections on their time on the show highlight the evolution of comedy and the significance of gender representation, both in real life and on the stage of late-night television.

As the milestone anniversary approaches, Goldberg’s comments remind us that comedy, like all forms of entertainment, is an ever-changing art that continues to shape cultural conversations, bringing humor to issues like representation and inclusivity. Through SNL, sketches like these have provided a unique platform for highlighting important societal shifts while still making audiences laugh.

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