Kristen Wiig Says She Is 'Excited' About New ‘Saturday Night Live’ Cast; SNL Veteran Says They’re in Good Hands

Kristen Wiig, a veteran of Saturday Night Live, is very happy about the new cast and Sasheer Zamata in particular. Kristen says the new SNL hires is exciting.

"Spoils of Babylon" star Kristen Wiig wants to wish Sasheer Zamata, the new Not Ready for Prime Time Player on "Saturday Night Live," luck. Not that Wiig thinks she needs it. Kristen Wiig offered "Congratulations to the new people who got hired at 'SNL' and their diversity."

Saturday Night Live hired on two new writers, LaKendra Tookes and Leslie Jones, In addition to new cast member Sasheer Zamata, who was just hired following criticism of the show for not having a black woman on board. The new crew will debut on January 18th.

Sasheer Zamata was hired after "Saturday Night Live" suffered blow-back for its lack of diversity. SNL hadn't had an African-American woman in the cast since Maya Rudolf left.

During a Television Critics Association panel about her new IFC show, "Spoils of Babylon Kristen Wiig told TheWrap, "I am excited about the new hire - it's great."

Kristeb Wiig also praised the creator of Saturday Night Live, Lorne Michaels, saying "He's incredibly smart, he changed my life. He's just an incredible man."

Kristen told the new cast they're in good hands. Wiig's new show, Spoils of Babylon, was created by former Saturday Night Live writers.

As a Not Ready for Prime Time Player, Kristen Wiig performed on 136 episodes of Saturday Night Live. She says "The lessons I've learned in how to write, perform in an ensemble, be a part of a group and have that sort of a family mentality is something that I feel very fortunate that I got to experience and take with me."

Sasheer Zamata, Lekandra Tookes and Leslie Jones' first show will be broadcast live from New York on Saturday night, Jan. 18, with host and musical guest Drake.

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