Saturday Night Live to add to new female cast members

Maybe it was the fact that Tiny Fey as Sarah Palin gave Saturday Night Live one of its most-discussed skits since "Dick In A Box," but the ever-changing sketch-comedy program is choosing to reestablish a respectable X-to-Y chromosome ratio. Last week it was announced that comedians Michaela Watkins and Abby Elliott will join the show to fill the gap left by new mother Amy Poehler and 30 Rock-helming Fey. Despite news that they were to debut in this weekend's episode (hosted by Paul Rudd), it seems they will appear later this month.

Abby, whose father Chris Elliott was on the program during the 1994-95 season, worked at L.A.'s Poehler-co-founded Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. According to blog reports, she's done some gangbuster impressions of Drew Barrymore and Joan Cusack. And if her paternal lineage (which also boasts a grandfather from legendary comedy duo Bob & Ray) wasn't enough, she took classes at the Groundlings comedy troupe, which saw the rise of SNL players Will Ferrell, Chris Kattan, Kathy Griffin, Phil Hartman and current cast member Kristin Wiig.

Then there's Watkins, who is a main company member of the Groundlings troupe. She appeared on the TV series Charmed in 2001 and The New Adventures of Old Christine at the start of this season. And maybe she'll provide (we're speculating superficially here) a Tiny Fey replacement.

Tide yourself over to their starting dates with this video of Justin Timberlake on Saturday's SNL:

Related links:
High Gravity: Best Saturday Night Live male cast members
High Gravity: Best Saturday Night Live female cast members
Ctl-V: SNL's "Fartface" sketch too crappy even for Internet

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