Saturday Night Live is not only adding a new African-American woman to its cast but two to its writers' room as well.
LaKendra Tookes and Leslie Jones, who were discovered during the sketch show's recent auditions, will join SNL's writers' room starting Monday, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
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Tookes and Jones were both among the black female comedians who auditioned during showcases held in New York and Los Angeles after the long-running Lorne Michaels sketch series faced widespread criticism that its new cast lacked diversity -- specifically the inclusion of an African-American woman.
Following the auditions -- the first in SNL history to focus exclusively on minority women -- Upright Citizens Brigade alum Sasheer Zamata was tapped to join the series. She'll make her debut Jan. 18 when Drake hosts.
Jones, a stand-up actress-comedian who was a finalist for the new cast member spot, has performed at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, has guest stared in comedies including The League, Sullivan & Son and written and appeared on Def Comedy Jam and 1st Amendment Stand Up. She's performed at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal as well as the Aspen Comedy Festival. In 2011, her comedy special Problem Child was broadcast on Showtime. Jones is repped by Integral Entertainment and Pierce Law Group.
Actress-comedian Tookes, meanwhile, is a former news reporter from Florida who has performed at iO West. Check out her character reel here.
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Sources tell THR that producers were impressed with both Tookes and Jones and thought they were talented, smart and funny. There are currently no plans to have either appear on-screen, though SNL writers in the past have transitioned to larger roles. Most recently, Mike O'Brien was promoted to featured player for the current 39th season after joining SNL as a writer in 2009. Others, including, breakout Jason Sudeikis,have followed similar career trajectories.
The series this year added six new comedians -- all white save for Noel Wells, who is of Hispanic-Tunisian descent. The additions come as Seth Meyers is poised to exit SNL in the spring as he transitions to replace Jimmy Fallon as the host of NBC's Late Night.
E-mail: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit
