Following the sudden—and supposedly unexpected—departure of Taran Killam, Jay Pharoah, and featured player Jon Rudnitsky earlier this summer, Saturday Night Live finally began refilling its ranks a few days ago by adding Chicago-based comedian Chris Redd and veteran SNL writer Mikey Day. Now, according to Deadline, NBC’s sketch comedy institution is adding two new featured players to that list.
First up is Alex Moffat, who Deadline calls an “improv performer.” He’s apparently been featured at a number of well-known comedy clubs, including Chicago’s famed Second City, and wrote on and starred in a sketch-comedy pilot for NBC. The other newcomer is Melissa Villaseñor, whose talents as a stand-up and impressionist got her to the top 16 on season six of America’s Got Talent. She’s also worked on Adventure Time and Family Guy, meaning she might be able to hook young people who like the former and the slightly older young people who like the latter.
The new season of SNL, which will at the very least feature all of these new faces in the opening credits, will premiere on October 1.