About once a year, Lorne Michaels visits Chicago and plucks a huge talent from our comedy scene. This year, that lucky improviser is Alex Moffat, an Annoyance, iO and Second City alum, who will debut on Saturday Night Live as a featured player in just a few short weeks. SNL's official cast listing confirms this.
Also joining the SNL cast is LA-based impressionist Melissa Villeseñor and Mikey Day, an SNL writer who got bumped up to featured player. All returning SNL cast members are now repertory players (meaning Michael Che, Pete Davidson and Leslie Jones all got promoted). Heavy-hitters Jay Pharoah and Taran Killam, as well as featured player Jon Rudnitsky, will not be returning this season.
Moffat joins an impressive list of Chicago-based SNL players: Current cast members Cecily Strong, Aidy Bryant and Beck Bennett all have Chicago roots. (Plus, of course, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Bill Murray… come on, do I really need to be telling you this? You know the deal.)
Last week, the internet lit up with rumors that the Second City’s Chris Redd (Popstar) would join the cast. It seems SNL’s announcement fully debunks that gossip.
We’re deeply sorry that Moffat has to leave Chicago for a place people leave their trash out on the sidewalk like barbarians. But, I guess SNL is an okay reason to leave. Just promise you’ll come back and visit?
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