Sasheer Zamata has beaten a string of talented women to be named the newest cast member of “Saturday Night Live.”
A spokeswoman for the NBC show confirmed that actress and comedian Zamata — who is currently starring in the web series “Pursuit of Sexiness” produced with Nicole Byer — would be joining the cast.
The move comes following an outcry about a lack of women of color on the of the long-running sketch comedy show, which prompted producers to hold a series of auditions in New York and Los Angeles.
Zamata becomes the first new female African-American “SNL” cast member since 2007. Her first show will be January 18.
Those reportedly offered call-backs for a final round of auditions in December included Zamata, Natasha Rothwell and Kerry Coddett, who are all alumnae of Upright Citizen’s Brigade which has helped nurture a string of “SNL” stars. Zamata hosts a weekly variety show at NYUCB called “School Night” for top improv, sketch and stand-up performers.
Meanwhile Coddett may have sealed her own fate by penning an opinion piece in The Atlantic in November criticizing the show for failing to better feature black female performers.
She wrote, “The show’s long history suggests that ‘Saturday Night Live’ just doesn’t know what to do with black women,” she wrote. “The roles it offers to them fall in line with much of the rest of popular media: stereotypical, demeaning, and scarce.”
“With the advent of YouTube and digital media, if SNL isn’t finding great talent, it’s probably because the casting methods have lagged behind the times. Millennial black comediennes might be getting overlooked because their progressive characters don’t fit roles the show is used to,” Coddett concluded.
For a taste of what is to come from Zamata, check out “Pursuit of Sexiness.”