All rights reserved. Zamata was at the top of almost all of those lists. Zamata is the first black female 'SNL' cast member in six years, since Maya Rudolph. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day, Inside the business of TV with breaking news, expert analysis and showrunner interviews. He took out his dick, I said no, and he put it away. But the rumblings erupted into roars late last year when Kenan Thompsonthe male actor who, upsettingly, is the one most often tasked with playing black female charactersinsinuated in an interview that the reason there are no female performers of color on the show is that there are no qualified candidates.

Click here to see Sasheer and Drake in the bar mitzvah skit. "How to Politely React to Your Friend's Terrible Engagement. "She's a social critic and she's a feminist.". In a demo reel, Zamatashows shes capable of becoming several several different characters, including an intimidatingRihanna answering media questions about her personal life and an angry Nicki Minaj reading Green Eggs and Ham. Her first live episode will be the Jan. 18 outing, featuring Drake as host and musical guest. He called me 'Miss.' A graduate of the University of Virginia, Zamata has worked with the Upright Citizens Brigade comedy troupe in New York. 2022 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. The lack of black females in the cast was apparent immediately after Maya Rudolph's departure five years ago, but recently fired up when Kerry Washington was on as host. He asked me if I needed a walk home. Reports of secret auditions to find a performer to specifically fit the almost-offensively missing demographic became not-so-secret in December. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Indianapolis native Sasheer Zamata is the newest "Saturday Night Live" cast member and the show's first black female cast member since Maya Rudolph's departure in 2007. STORY:Saturday Night Live Adds First African-American Female in Five Years. If the ringer Washington was put through in the episodes cold open is any indicationshe was tasked, as the only black female at Studio 8H, to play Michelle Obama, Oprah, and BeyoncZamata could be looking at an exhausting run with the show. Judging by this short sketch on Punch! Star reporter David Lindquist contributed to this story. She appeared in the brilliant first season of Comedy Centrals Inside Amy Schumer in a sketch about Schumers inability to tell black employees at a clothing store apart.

The 27-year-old comedian from Indianapolis made her 'SNL' debut on Jan 18. Zamata becomes the fifth black woman to join the cast since "SNL" premiered in 1975, following Yvonne Hudson, Danitra Vance, Ellen Cleghorne and Rudolph. "I've had worse encounters with dicks before. Kendall Jenner Buys Beverly Hills Home for $8.5 Million, 5 Ways L.L. The midseason hire came amid criticism that prompted producers to hold nationwide showcases for black comediennes. Turns out Lorne Michaels warmed up to Zamata before another potential McConaughey-portrayer had the chance. One video written by Zamata originally in 2012 caught fire again last month when Lena Dunham tweeted her seal of approval. Baffled by that tidbit of information, the offended hordes not only argued that there are plenty of qualified candidates but also helpfully offered up solutions.

"It's not like it's not a priority for us," Michaels said two months ago. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. ", Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Please confirm your subscription to Verge Deals via the verification email we just sent you. (Cate Hellman Photography/AP), As luck would have it, the first words uttered by the first black female "Saturday Night Live" castmember in six years were "Mazel Tov.". By submitting your email, you agree to our, 'SNL' casts Sasheer Zamata as first black female cast member inyears, Sign up for the The comedian is the first black female to join NBC's late-night sketch series since Maya Rudolph. We made these request both because Ms. Washington is an actress of considerable range and talent, but also because SNL doesnt currently have a black woman in the cast. SNLs lack of diversity has incited rumblings of discontent for decadesthere have been only four women of color on the series in its 38-year history. Heres how her former collaborator, W. Kamau Bell, forsees her first day on the job going: Thats gonna be a lot of wigs. Subscribe to get the best Verge-approved tech deals of the week. He double-checked. "She's very much like Tina," says UVA Prof. Richard Warner, who taught both women. "It will happen. Zamata becomes the first black female SNL cast member since Maya Rudolph. She attempts to sing like Beyonce, too. Zamatas YouTube channel offers a glimpse into what viewers can expect when she makes her debut on SNL, including spot-on portrayals of Beyonce, Michelle Obama and Rihanna. She co-stars in a web series called Pursuit of Sexiness, the series own description of which is absolutely perfect: Best friends and troublemakers Nicky and Sheer are broke, single, and (adorably!) Zamata is a graduate of the University of Virginia and has been a performer with the Upright Citizens Brigade two institutions that helped propel Tina Fey to superstardom. Sasheer Zamata was featured in numerous sketches during the NBC show Saturday night, making her debut in a skit about the bar mitzvah of host and musical guest Drake. This guy was at least polite. Zamata, 27, will join for the Jan. 18 episode, which will feature Drake as the host and musical guest. According to Deadline, Sasheer Zamata, who has trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade, has been hired to join the cast of Saturday Night Live, becoming the first female black cast member since the Maya Rudolph left the late-night sketch show five years ago. Zamata graduated three years ago from the University of Virginia, has been performing at the UCB Theatre in New York, and has already logged an impressive resume of sketch appearancesboth on-screen and in live theater. Using mobile? On her Twitter profile, @thesheertruth, Zamata posted an October 2012 photo of an "I Vote, I Count" sticker on her jacket, accompanied by the hashtag "#IndianaEarlyVoting.". Back in November, SNL shrewdly skewered its diversity problem with its Kerry Washington-hosted outing. Theres been no black female cast member on the show since Maya Rudolph left. Theyre looking for good men, easy money and free meals but would be satisfied to break even and find a guy who doesnt prematurely ejaculate.. How could a series that skewers modern politics and pop culture have six actors on deck to play Matthew McConaughey but none to play the First Lady of the United States? Washington was portrayed as exasperated when she was asked to impersonate first lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Beyonce Knowles in the same skit. 2022 www.indystar.com. After a long controversy that had both cast members and fans talking, SNL will welcome Sasheer Zamata as its first black female member since 2007. She's seen in this video skit by the troupe titled "How to Politely React to Your Friend's Terrible Engagement.". Her hilarious reflection on a supposedly traumatizing incident? self-absorbed. Heres the self-aware message that scrolled on the screen during the sketch: The producers at Saturday Night Live would like to apologize to Kerry Washington for the number of black women she will be asked to play tonight. In another video, Zamata portrays Beyonce as a new mom breastfeeding her newborn while listening to the beat of Run the World (Girls) not long after the singer gave birth to Blue Ivy in 2011. The sketch that got everyone talking was the one that featured Washington playing all the black female roles, including Michelle Obama, Oprah, and Beyonce, but the humor was classically SNL with the show apologizing that Washington had to play all the characters. Culture Shelf, Zamata has the energy and the comedic chops to nail it on SNL. Best of luck, Sasheer. In one video, Zamata as Queen B sings to her baby with a framed mug shot of husband Jay Z in the background. SNL skewered itself during a recent sketch with Kerry Washington, who portrayed Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Beyonce. Zamata will make her debut on the January 18 episode of SNL, which also has Drake as the host and musical guest. newsletter. Earlier this season, Thompson and Pharoah commented publicly about the lack of black women among the 16 regular or featured players.

Zamata, 27, is the first black woman to be cast on the show since Maya Rudolph left in 2007. She played the girlfriend of the rapper's uncle and appeared as songstress Rihanna and as a girl hosting a pajama party. I'm sure it will happen.". NBCs Saturday Night Live added its first African-American female in five years, with Sasheer Zamata becoming the late-night sketch shows newest cast member. At the top of the show, an "SNL" producer apologized for the number of black female characters Washington needed to play that night. After SNL was criticized for its lack of diversity, producers held auditions for black female comedians in New York and Los Angeles the first time the show exclusively focused on casting minority women. In a video uploaded in 2009, Zamata portrays Obama in a skit where she shows the First Lady at her breaking point, getting into fights with construction workers and the homeless. "SNL" turned the issue into comedy when "Scandal" star Kerry Washington was a guest host. Behind the scenes, though, "SNL" founding executive producer Lorne Michaels was busy holding comedy showcases across the country, searching for a black woman to join the cast. The 27-year-old comedian from Indianapolis made her 'SNL' debut on Jan 18. Zamata was one of at least three women to get a callback later in the month. Director Paul Briganti, who worked with Zamata on College Humor Originals sketches, sees her as the total package. Thompson and Pharoah made it known they would no longer dress in drag to portray black women. Zamata stars in a skit with Kenan Thompson (center) and rapper Drake. It was actually kind of respectful, if anything.". "Saturday Night Live," criticized recently for a lack of diversity, adds Zamata to a cast that includes two black males: Kenan Thompson and Jay Pharoah. "It's rare that a performer is hilarious, kind and hard-working all at once, but that's Sasheer," he said. Heres everything you need to know about Sasheer Zamata, the woman just hired to change that. Live from New York, its finally a woman whos not Maya Rudolph who can play Michelle Obama on Saturday Night Live. Shes also appeared on FXs Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, MTVs Hey Girl, sketches for CollegeHumor and Jest, and an Apple commercial. The Upright Citizens Brigade alum will make her debut Jan. 18 with host and musical guest Drake. As for the latter, we realize this is not an ideal situation and look forward to rectifying it in the near futureunless, of course, we fall in love with another white guy first.. An aghast blogosphere instantly took issue with Thompsons comments, intensifying the spotlight on SNLs diversity issue. In it, she tells two sides of a narrative in which a woman is flashed: the victim and the flashers.

All Rights Reserved. Zamata trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City and this big break comes only three years after she graduated from the University of Virginia. Bean Is Actually a Progressive Company, PHOTOS:Saturday Night Live: 10 Stars You Forgot Were Castmembers, 'Saturday Night Live': 10 Stars You Forgot Were Castmembers, 'SNL': 10 Must-Watch Moments of 2013 (Video), 'Saturday Night Live' Adds First African-American Female in Five Years, Netflix Sets K-Drama Revenge Series The Glory, Mike Judge Talks Beavis and Butt-Head Evolving for New Series; Gives King of the Hill, Daria Updates, The Wheel of Time Gets Early Season 3 Renewal, Mike Judges Beavis and Butt-Head Mocks TikTok Video, Puts Fire Obsession Forefront in Series First Look (Exclusive), Umbrella Academy Unseats Stranger Things on Streaming Chart, Harvey Keitel Joins National Treasure Series at Disney+, TV Pilots 2022: The Complete Broadcast Guide, Broadcast TV Unscripted Scorecard 2022: Whats New, Renewed and Canceled, TV Premiere Dates 2022: The Complete Guide, The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News. Local NBC affiliate WTHR-13 reports that Zamata is a 2004 graduate of Pike High School. Even cast members Kenan Thompson and Jay Pharoah have spoken out about the situation, saying it wasn't ideal and that they would like to see a black female influence in the cast soon.