Saturday Night Live is keeping its Chicago connection alive by adding Chicago improv and sketch comedy actor Alex Moffatt for the upcoming 42nd season.
Moffat is one of three new cast members “SNL” announced on Monday. “SNL” writer Mikey Day and stand-up comic Melissa Villaseñor also join the cast as featured players. Season 42 of “Saturday Night Live”debuts Oct. 1.
The trio replaces three “SNL” cast members fired earlier this year—Taran Killam, Jay Pharoah and Jon Rudnitsky. Killam recently signed on to Showtime’s Jason Katims pilot “Mating.” Pharoah also went to Showtime, finding a spot on the Jamie Foxx pilot “White Famous.”
Moffat starred as a featured player in Chicago at iO Theater and The Second City. The Chicago-area native created a one-man show at the Annoyance, “Good Little Winnetka Boy.” He also created the web series “El Show with Alex Moffat.” He co-starred in the 2015 film “Uncle John.”
Day joined “SNL” as a writer in Season 39. This summer he served as a co-head writer on NBC’s sketch show “Maya & Marty.” He also acted in the show. He has written or performed for “Robot Chicken,” “Incredible Crew,” “Mad” and “Kath and Kim.”
Villaseñor has voiced characters on Cartoon Network’s “Adventure Time” and Fox’s “Family Guy.” The impressionist and stand-up comedian reached to Top 16 on Season 6 of “America’s Got Talent.”
Broadway Video produces “Saturday Night Live” in association with creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels.