Saturday Night Live has decided to continue its quest of relieving Kristen Wiig from being the only funny female on the show. Last season, SNL added Casey Wilson, Michaela Watkins, and Abby Elliott. The public didn’t seem largely receptive to any of the new females, whether it’s because of the amount of air time received, the quality of the writing, etc. Still, that isn’t stopping the historic sketch program from bringing in Nasmin Pedrad and Jenny Slate. Both have spent time at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, which has become SNL’s equivalent of a farm system.
As for the newcomers, Pedrad is familiar to Los Angeles audiences for her regular appearances with the Groundlings, the UCB Theater and Improv Olympic, as well as the stage show “After School Special.” She also staged a one-woman show, “Me, Myself and Iran,” and has had guest roles on primetime series such as “ER” and “Gilmore Girls.”
Slate is best known for her UCB New York show “Dead Millionaire,” in which she plays a woman who dies and leaves $300 million to her dog. She’s also half of the comedy duo Gabe and Jenny and has been a regular snarky commentator on VH1’s “Best Week Ever.”
No word yet on whether any members will be departing. The cast is the largest it’s been in recent memory and I’m sure Lorne Michaels will soon be trimming the fat.
