Armisen likens Obama to Rubik's Cube

NEW YORK, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- "Saturday Night Live" comedian Fred Armisen says portraying President-elect Barack Obama on the U.S. TV show is like solving a Rubik's Cube.

The comedian, who played Obama in several pre-election "SNL" episodes, says determining the best way to imitate the Democratic Illinois senator is as complicated as solving the popular 1980s toy, the Scripps Howard News Service reported Saturday.

''To me, it's like trying to figure out a Rubik's Cube or a puzzle,'' Armisen said. ''There are so many pieces to put together."

The comedian said conducting an effective imitation of the next U.S. president also requires capturing his "cool" demeanor.

"But to do him, it takes a number of little things. Most of all, it means not being as nervous as possible," the "SNL" star told the news service. "He seems so cool at times. I'm faking being cool.''