Chloe Fineman on How 'SNL' Transformed Her Approach to Impressions and Celebrity Impersonations

Chloe Fineman has become synonymous with Saturday Night Live’s impression repertoire, a role that has reshaped her perspective on celebrity impersonations.

“Since being on the show, my relationship with impressions has dramatically changed,” Fineman shared during an appearance on SNL’s digital series The Rundown on Wednesday. “When I started, I didn’t know any of these people. I would never cross paths with them. I was just kind of shots fired. Now, anything I do, I get feedback. They either love it or hate it.”

The Rundown is a digital series where current and former SNL cast members curate their favorite sketches from the show’s history, organizing them into a cohesive episode. Past episodes have featured Colin Jost selecting a cold open, Dana Carvey choosing a live sketch, and Bowen Yang picking a Weekend Update segment. Fineman’s assignment? Selecting an impression-based sketch.

Fineman kicked off the episode with her impression of Drew Barrymore, opening with, “I’m so totally gagged to talk about impressions and Saturday Night Live.” Barrymore, she noted, was the subject of her very first impression for a pre-taped SNL sketch.

“I don’t know if I had known her at the time. My love for Drew Barrymore knows no bounds. We were really careful not to be mean, but make fun in a loving way,” Fineman explained. “Her reaction to that was perfect.” The full episode of The Rundown is available to watch below.

Throughout the conversation, Fineman delved into the nuances of impression comedy. She emphasized that the success of an impersonation often hinges less on perfect accuracy and more on the performer’s ability to uncover humor in the character. She praised Fred Armisen’s portrayal of Prince and Kate McKinnon’s take on Justin Bieber as standout examples of SNL impressions.

“She was one of the first people to really, like, be a boy,” Fineman said of McKinnon. “Kate just rewrote the rulebook: I’m gonna be so sexy and so funny and not offensive at all.”

For her contribution to The Rundown, Fineman selected Kristen Wiig’s iconic sketch, “Liza Minnelli Tries to Turn Off a Lamp.”

“It’s taken me like seven years to realize that SNL is a variety show, and we have a lot of variety,” Fineman reflected. “I think I contribute to SNL and feel very at home in the variety of impressions and commenting on pop culture and what’s going on today. Doing the impression with love is the name of the game on this show.”