After the recent announcement that "Saturday Night Live" will be adding several new cast members for its 36th season, it doesn't come as a surprise that Will Forte won't be the only person leaving the show, although this time it won't to be voluntarily.
According to Deadline, the most likely person to be cut is Jenny Slate who was added as a featured player at the beginning of last season along with Nasim Pedrad. Unlike Jenny Slate, It's not surprising that Pedrad is a lock to return as she seemed more relaxed and brought more to the show, subsequently getting more screen time than Slate during the course of their freshman season.
Jenny Slate is perhaps best remembered for accidentally dropping the F-bomb during her first major sketch "Biker Chick Chat" on last season's premiere. The clip, which showed Slate's subsequent flustered reaction, immediately became a viral hit. No immediate consequence came for the flub from executive producer Lorne Michaels (or the FCC), other than not appearing in all that many sketches for some time after. She also played recurring character Tina-Tina Chaneuse, a saleswomen pitching personalized doorbells, car horns, and alarm clocks in a series of fake TV ads (see one of the sketches below).
Jenny Slate can also be seen in the HBO detective comedy "Bored to Death" in the recurring role of "Stella." Season two of the show premieres Sept. 26. Slate recently had a viral video hit with the stop- motion animated short "Marcel the Shell With Shoes On," which can be seen here.
Another relative newcomer, Abby Elliot, was also on the chopping block up until recently, though she is now expected to return. Elliot is a second-generation cast member, the daughter of Chris Elliot who appeared on the show for one season. It was reported recently that Abby Elliot is also dating fellow "SNL" cast member Fred Armisen, who is 20 years her senior. These connections may lead some to question whether Elliot is remaining on the show for reasons other than her comedic talents. Since debuting on the sketch comedy show in 2008 to replace Amy Poehler, Elliot has in fact yet to establish any real stand-out characters or recurring sketches other than making a few appearances as Angelina Jolie on "Weekend Update."
Meanwhile, 22-year old comic Jay Pharoah is expected to be the fourth person added to the cast after Taran Killam, and Chicago improv actors Paul Brittain and Vanessa Bayer. Pharoah is the first African-American performer being added to the cast since 2003, bringing the show's number of African-American members to a grand total of two, in addition to Kenan Thompson. Pharoah is best known for his impersonations which include the likes of Will Smith, Jay-Z, Eddie Murphy, Denzel Washington, and President Obama, among others. No word yet on whether Jay Pharoah will take over for Fred Armisen's much-maligned take on Obama.
*Update: The NY TImes is confirming that "SNL" has already signed the four new cast members, and Jenny Slate's contract has not been renewed for a second season. Also, according to a source close to the show, Pharaoh will not be taking over the role of President Obama from Fred Armisen.
In other "SNL" news, alum Amy Poehler will be making a return to the show for her first turn as host on the season premiere, with Katy Perry as the musical guest. She left the show in 2008 to star in the NBC comedy "Parks and Recreation" (which unfortunately won't be back until midseason), but has made several notable appearances since then. Other already announced hosts include "Breaking Bad's" Bryan Cranston (Oct. 2), and "Glee" star Jane Lynch (Oct. 9).
"SNL" returns for its 36th season on Sept. 25.
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