Live from New York ‘It’s racial diversity’

Live from New York Its racial diversity

Debuting on Jan. 18, was Saturday Night Live’s newest cast member, Sasheer Zamata. Zamata is the newest black female actress to be added to the regular lineup. In fact, she is the only black actress on the cast, and the addition took six years.

“I feel like it’s been years since I’ve seen you!” President Obama, portrayed by cast member Jay Pharoah, said to Kerry Washington, who was playing his wife in the cold opening to the Nov. 2, 2013 episode of Saturday Night Live. Actress Kerry Washington was the first person to act the part of Michelle Obama since Maya Rudolph left the show in 2007. Washington played Beyoncé in the same skit along with other black female characters throughout the night. A voice-over was played during the episode addressing the now obvious problem: there were no other women of color to play the parts.

“Saturday Night Live would like to apologize to Kerry Washington for the number of black women she will be asked to play.” The voice-over said, “We make these requests because Ms. Washington is an actress of considerable range and talent — and also because SNL does not currently have a black woman on the cast. Mostly the latter.”

The Los Angeles Times called the acknowledgment “arrogant and not funny,” and the media criticism of the lack of racial and ethnic diversity became more vocal. In an interview with TVGuide, Kenan Thompson declares that he and Jay Pharoah, his fellow African-American SNL cast member, aren’t interested in portraying female characters. The show has become lazy, Thompson said, continually depending on potentially laugh-worthy sketches involving black women.

The new funny girl in the spotlight is a 27-year-old actress with a drama degree and membership in the well-known Upright Citizens Brigade, a comedians troupe confounded by Amy Poehler. Sasheer Zamata has been in multiple commercials, and features in sketches on FX’s “Totally Biased With Kamau Bell” and Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer.” If her own accomplishments can’t speak for themselves, Zamata has gained support from other female comedians, such as Amy Poehler and Lena Dunham. Lena Dunham tweeted that Sasheer is “the best,” and linked to a video on her Youtube channel for proof. Director Paul Briganti, who worked with her on College Humor Originals, says, “it’s rare that a performer is hilarious, kind and hard-working all at once, but that’s Sasheer.”

University of Virginia Professor Richard Warner advised both 2008 graduate Sasheer Zamata and 1988 graduate, former SNL cast member Tina Fey. He compares Zamata and Fey as both “social critics” and “feminists”.

After the 2013 defecting of popular Saturday Night Live members Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis, Seth Meyers, and Fred Armisen, the show is in need for familiarity.

Saturday Night Live airs on Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. on NBC