“Hey, shouldn’t a black guy play Barack Obama on ‘Saturday Night Live’?” is what everyone said during Obama’s run for the presidency in 2008. Now, just a mere two years later, Lorne Michaels and NBC are on the precipice of a swift response to the glaring lack of funny black people in “SNL’s” lineup.

The Comic’s Comic has learned that Jay Pharoah, a young stand-up comedian from Virginia’s Tidewater who has a full arsenal of impersonations — including one of President Barack Obama (and yes, he’d likely do it instead of Fred Armisen!) — is just about a done deal to become the fourth new cast member to join the on-air ranks when SNL’s 36th season begins on Sept. 25, 2010…

His bio says he’s 22, but began working on his impersonations as early as junior high and in local comedy clubs in the Tidewater by the time he was 15. He says he would like to meet his comedy idols, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock, both of whom rocketed to fame via SNL. Looks like he may get his chance sooner rather than later. Pharoah flew in to NYC twice in August for screen tests and meetings with Lorne.

Oh man, that last name is gonna bother me. I really need it to be spelled “Pharaoh” instead of “Pharoah.” Why yes, thank you, I would like some medication for this OCD.

In other “SNL” news, “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston will host the October 2nd episode. Hmmm… interesting. They went with the veteran comic actor who has now won three straight Best Leading Actor Emmys. I just hope there’s still room in the schedule for Steve Martin to host for the 78th time.

Following the news that Will Forte is departing the cast of “Saturday Night Live” after eight seasons, NBC’s late-night stalwart has added three new cast members for its 36th season: Taran Killam, Paul Brittain, and Vanessa Bayer. Killam is a well-traveled sketch and comic actor (guest roles on “Scrubs” and “How I Met Your Mother,” where he impregnated girlfriend and HIMYM star Cobie Mulder), while Brittain (extreme close-up above) and Bayer (curly hair) are relative unknowns plucked from the Chicago improv scene.

New York Magazine has done its best to cobble together what few (unfunny) clips these people have online, but I’m more intrigued by the possibility of more changes to come:

Regulars such as “Weekend Update” anchor Seth Meyers, Andy Samberg, Jason Sudeikis and Kenan Thompson are among those who have not yet said if they are being re-hired, according to reports. [New York Post]

As much as I’m not a fan of Kenan Thompson, the single way to improve “SNL” would be to bury Seth Meyers in concrete, dump him into the East River, and hire a head writer who can keep skits under five minutes. Or I guess they could just fire him. As long as there’s a new head writer. But I still say concrete and East River. You can never be too sure.

Well, it’s official: Betty White really will be the host of “Saturday Night Live” on May 8th. Assuming, you know… I hate to sound so pessimistic, but the woman is 88 years old, people. I think she’s great, but I’m not going to let myself get too attached. Some details:

The Mother’s Day episode also will feature a reunion of six former female cast members, most of them moms: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer and Rachel Dratch…

[Lorne] Michaels says that as the live show’s oldest host, she can perform “as much as she wants to do” but adds that the physical demands of the show led him to plan the cast reunion, though make no mistake: White is the solo host.

She’s flattered and flabbergasted by the attention: “It’s lovely, and at my age it’s certainly unexpected.” And she’s not worried about the workload: “I’ve got so much energy, it’s ridiculous. I love working. My schedule is a feverish one, and I’m used to that.”

I think it’s really cool that this all started with a Snickers commercial and a Facebook campaign, and Betty White is certainly a legendary comedic actress. But let’s not kid ourselves here: it’s still “Saturday Night Live.” There are going to be at least as many skits that annoy you with their crappiness as there will be genuinely funny material. But you’d be a fool not to watch. C’mon, who’s ever seen someone break a hip on live TV?

“Saturday Night Live” had an uneven, largely disappointing season premiere this weekend, and I’m sad to report that the scheduled picture of host Megan Fox has been replaced by SNL rookie Jenny Slate, seen here reacting to saying the F-word on live television in her first starring sketch, the three billionth variation of “regular person has an unfunny talk show” (see video below).

Quick reactions to the rest of the show:

• Megan Fox was actually pretty good, but the writers didn’t give her much to work with.
• The digital shorts fell flat. (And why was “The Date” with Fox and Will Forte even a digital short?)
• As indulgent as a third U2 song was, it’s better for the closing credits than people waving.
• Kenan Thompson is terrible. Absolutely terrible. I can’t think of a prominent SNL cast member who was worse.
• The writing for “Weekend Update” was sharp (save Thompson’s appearance). Kristen Wiig’s travel writer character represents the best of SNL: a one-note joke that, when executed well, is repeatedly funny.
• Most people seem to think the Bladdivan sketch was the best (see below), but I preferred the “Live Lounge” fake commercial.

Despite its weaknesses, it’s nice to have SNL back. It’s a great show to zip through in 50 minutes on Sunday while I wait for football to start, and it gives me something discuss on Monday morning with any weirdos who aren’t into the NFL or “Mad Men.” Not that those people are worth talking to. Read the rest of this entry »

Over the weekend, “Saturday Night Live” hired two new comediennes, Jenny Slate and Nasim Pedrad, just as it was letting go Michaela Watkins and Casey Wilson. Although Watkins was a surprise, Wilson was in few skits and impressed in fewer, so I considered it to be inconsequential enough to ignore.

But SNL is too established as a comedy showcase to make changes in its female cast without people bringing race, attractiveness, weight, and any other characteristic held by anyone who isn’t a white male. While NPR bashed the grossly overrated Washington Post critic Tom Shales for his retardery, E! gossip columnist Ted Casablanca claimed that Wilson was let go because she wasn’t thin enough:

Our inside comedy sources tell us SNL producers told the curvy Casey to lose 30 pounds during the show’s summer hiatus. They pretty much demanded it. And whether Wilson just couldn’t drop the weight or she just only wanted to give her middle finger some exercise, she didn’t drop a damn pound. And that’s when she was axed, we’re told.

Wilson certainly isn’t slender, but she definitely doesn’t need to lose 30 pounds to do sketch comedy. So if that’s true, then she should be allowed to exact some kind of revenge on Lorne Michaels. Perhaps by sitting on him.  I kid, I kid — honestly, I think it’s more likely that Casablanca can’t tell his head from her ass, as determined by this:

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