‘SNL’ promotes black woman to its cast from writing staff in latest bid for diversity
NEW YORK, N.Y. – “Saturday Night Live” is giving its on-screen diversity another boost. NBC says the comic institution is adding Leslie Jones to its cast.
The African-American comedian wins her on-camera role after serving as a writer on the show last season.
Jones has been a featured performer at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal and the Aspen Comedy Festival. She starred in a one-hour comedy special “Problem Child” on Showtime.
She came to “SNL” in January, along with fellow writer LaKendra Tookes as well as Sasheer Zamata, who was signed to join the cast at that time.
Those hirings came after “SNL” had been criticized for a lack of diversity, particularly the absence of any black women among the regular or featured players.
___
Online:
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live
News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Join the Conversation!
Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.