Just days since Sasheer Zamata was added to the Saturday Night Live cast, two new black female writers have been added to SNL’s behind-the-scenes staff.
The NBC sketch show, which previously received flack for its homogeneous cast, hired LaKendra Tookes, an Improv Olympic West theater alum, and Leslie Jones, a standup comedienne.
Jones’ resume boasts cameos on The League ,Chelsea Lately, Girlfriends, Showtime at the Apollo, and Mind of Mencia. Tookes, a former news reporter who auditioned in Los Angeles, is an expert celebrity impersonator, known to cover Fran Drescher and Nicki Minaj among many others.
SNL alums Tina Fey and Jason Sudeikis began their stints on the comedy sketch show behind the scenes before launching very successful careers in front of the camera.
Photo credit: Hollywood Reporter