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NBC announced that Sasheer Zamata will be joining the long running sketch comedy show this weekend, making her the first African-American female in the show’s cast since Maya Rudolph more than 6 years ago. Seemingly, some folks over at SNL didn’t believe black women were all that funny, but enormous outcry from the general public forced the show to rethink their previous casting choices and add Zamata to the mix.
Zamata was hand-picked by SNL Executive Producer Lorne Michaels after honing her skills with the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York since graduating from the University of Virginia with a drama degree in 2009.
Interestingly, Zamata is not the only black female joining the show, as SNL has also decided to add 2 black females to the writing staff.
LaKendra Tookes and Leslie Jones were discovered by Michaels during the secret NY and LA auditions. They so impressed him that instead of adding them to the cast, he offered them staff writer positions.
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Although SNL casts begin their season in September, Zamata will make her debut this weekend with hip-hop star Drake as host and musical guest. Tookes and Jones started work a few days ago and have already written sketches that will include Zamata this Saturday.
