SNL Casts Michelle Obama: Maya Rudolph To Return, Says Report

UPDATE:
Watch Maya Rudolph as Michelle Obama

PREVIOUSLY:
Saturday Night Live is on a roll, and joining Fred Armisen's Barack Obama will reportedly be former cast member Maya Rudolph

Since they've had great success with Tina Fey and Will Ferrell, well placed sources tell us "SNL" is once again bringing back a former cast member ... Maya Rudolph will play Michelle Obama this weekend.

Besides playing Mrs. O, we're told Maya -- who left the show last November -- will once again co-star with Amy Poehler in their "Bronx Beat" skit. Oh my gawd!

Tragically, we're told Tina will not be back playing Sarah Palin on Saturday.

Maya isn't the only former cast member returning this political season. Chris Parnell has been back to play Jim Lehrer and Tom Brokaw in debate sketches and Will Ferrell returned as President Bush. When on the show Maya was known for her impressions of Donatella Versace and Whitney Houston.

Comments

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

Black Skin 101:

I want to stress the history of the color of black women and men on TV. The reason this is an issue is that black families in the past always have seen, for example, light-skinned actors on television only, or black-skinned (dark) actors playing parents with say a mixed child. The color combo could happen, but more unlikely in the gene pool. Getting color right in the black community are major issues -- many feel because of the issues with light-skinned people are better than black skin. I have been called "white Girl" growing up because I’m part Native American...and my friends it wasn't nice. So, people in the black community who are dark-skinned, want to see themselves represented. Michelle Obama is dark-skinned, and I'm sure she would want to see herself represented. Understanding the history of this issue is the key to understanding why others feel so strong about skin color.

Take a look the roles on television in the last 50 years. Media thinks if you are lighter, you are more beautiful. If darker, something is wrong, ugly with you. This needs to stop and I’m sure there are a lot of dark-skinned actors out there in need of a job that can showcase the true look of Michelle Obama – as Tina Fey has done for Palin.

[robXdion]

But. . . .but. . .. but. . .. .her mama is Minnie Ripperton!! (rolls eyes)

They don't get it. Many of these posters don't understand the importance of properly representing the image of others or even themselves. If they are white, as long as the actress looks mostly white, they're content. If they're black, they've forgotten how insulting this is and what it actually says about devaluing blackness in this society. In reality there's a dark black woman about to become the 1st Lady. In make believe artistic representations, they still want to represent a white-centric fantasy where dark skin is minimized and assimilation to whiteness is the standard.

[blastit]

dark black or light black what you don't seem to understand that to most people black is black.!!

[anons]

you're right, here and as u alluded to below, the carelessness of the pick runs deeper than accuracy with regard to pigment. More important to me perhaps than choosing someone who is racially accurate is someone who is psychologically accurate. Obama comes off as vacant and that's more disappointing than choosing someone who's not black to play him- even with all of his complexity his character on snl is still the one dimensional token.

They've managed to turn Barack into a prop and it would be a travesty if they did the same with Michelle.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

I'm a white dude of Irish American heritage which makes me pasty white but my wife is African American with some native and German American heritages. My wife tells the funniest stories about how African Americans talk about skin color like "red bone" or "high yellow". I just think it's a glorious part of African American culture that is unique to this country.

I don't know if anyone has seen the new David Alan Grier show on Comedy Central called "Chocolate News" and it is hilarious. He talks about how Obama barely passes the "brown paper bag" test for being black. He said if white folks have trouble voting for Obama "just vote for the white half".

[KISSman]

As soon as I read this story, I was not happy with their choice of Michelle for this very reason.

Neither of the actors chosen to play Barack and Michelle are anywhere close to being in the same ballpark when it comes to having a similar skin tone. What this says is that SNL needs to try a little harder to find comedians who can look and sound something like them.

Actually, SNL could sorely use a lead African-American male actor at this point anyhow. I think I can count on one-hand how many there have been during the show's entire history. Over 30-years of SNL and I can only think of 5. Hmmm...

[RTIII]

Or, she could do it in blackface!

-duck!-

OK, I'm kidding. I get your point. However, I wouldn't worry too much; it's a good thing if we can relax over the whole issue. I agree we need more diversity, but I'm not so sure you can push it - it's like pushing a rope. Instead, you pull it; get directors in there.

Now, on second thought, there IS something of a problem here, though it's not just a race or color thing; over 90% of the media is in the hands of just FIVE. We DESPERATELY need media divestiture, just as we broke up Ma Bell... Without a working media, we have no democracy. All you need see for proof of the concept is how main stream the expression "low-information-voter" has become. ...How could there POSSIBLY be low-information people in a society addicted to TV?...
.

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

Nani? They look nothing alike, and she's very light-skinned, and Michelle has a great darker color. I know there aren't a lot of Black women on TV... but I just don't see it, but perhaps, her acting will give us something great to see.

[anons]

she'll have to be great to make up for fred armison's atrociously simple, dull version of Barack..how is it that mac, hillary and palin, for godsssakes, were more complex, well rounded characters on snl than obama?

u know what really need is another comedy show, snl is a relic.

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

I just think they need a crash course in understanding that black people are more dynamic than what is seen on television. People haven't even realised that Obama is a geek. Heck, I'm a geek, and it's cute, his dancing is cute, all black people are not the same, and it's great to be unique, just like everyone body else, all over the world.

[ahoyhoy]

I saw only the town hall debate parody, and it seemed as if the Obama character was more the "straight man," who leads you into the spot-on Darrell Hammond impersonation of McCain!
I also think it may be difficult for SNL writers to see enough flaws, I'm sure they saw the debate through Obama colored glasses.

Darrel Hammond did a FANTASTIC Al Gore, back in 2000.

[t0msman]

"u know what really need is another comedy show"

There is, its called MadTv and has been on FOX for at least ten years and has ALWAYS had an ethnically diverse cast. Some of the best impersonations of politicians and celebrities are done on this show. The actors/comedians are more than capable of DEAD ON impersonations. The man (whose name escapes me right now) who currently does Obama is fantastic and far exceeds that of SNL's. Debra Wilson has been on for years and does the best Oprah Winfrey around (to name a few of her characters). Frank Caliendo (DirectTV commercials) was on it for years and his W is off the charts (barely looks like him, but it doesn't matter).

[cariosity]

I love Maya but I wish they would have found someone equally talented that looks more like Michelle. At least they didn't have Kenan play her. Fred has his moments but I'm not fond of his Obama impersonation. Talking quickly with Dumbo ears = no dice.

[PrairieDog]

Fred's Obama is not his best. He has it partially down. Just as no one has done W like Will Ferrell.. The resemblence isn't as important as the mannerisms. You can make up for the former with make-up. Darrell Hammond doesn't have hair like Bill Clinton but he becomes BC.

[nichelle02]

I think this is the best Obama impersonation I've seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0D1w2mjqzk&feature=channel

[CKieffer]

I think she could play Jolie too.

[happycat]

That would be hilarious!

[anons]

yeah ok, maya rudolph is mixed, the dude playing obama looks kinda ethnic.. hey barack is half black anyway so whats all this fuss right?
wrong! same s h * t different day. it matters people, it matters. OK?
snl likes to have their tokens but never a substantial group of talented non white comedians...maybe if they stepped into 2008 their show wouldn't s u c k outside of election season

[indy87]

To those who keep referring to Fred Armisen as a white guy, he's actually of Venezuelan and Japanese ethnicity.

[anons]

didnt say he was white

[robXdion]

He sure as he!! ain't black. We know that much.

[cariosity]

he's of German, Venezuelan and Japanese ancestry, so technically, he is PART white.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035488/bio

[CaptainVideo]

The question is not whether Rudolph is black or not. The point is that she is too light skinned to play the role. Having her play the role makes as little sense as having a blond woman play the role of a woman with black hair.

[minkia]

Two words, Tropic Thunder (see R. Downey Jr)

[donbrown]

Maya Rudolph is a black woman, if you go by the traditional (and outdated) American standard of the "one-drop" standard.

Her mother was singer Minnie Ripperton.

[robXdion]

The question should be "Why does the woman playing MO have to be half-white, thereby looking NOTHING like her?" The issue here is whether or not it's easier for the larger white audience to accept half-black actors who qualify as black in heritage only. Do you understand what that is saying about unspoken white supremacy and notions that darker blacks are rejected and not acceptable to the majority? Do you get the inherent soft racism in that? It's demeaning to suggest by their selection that a darker black woman cannot play a subject that's actually darker than the actress. LIFE IS BECOMING LESS RACIST THAN ART. This is actually delivering the message lightness or whiteness is what all blacks should aspire to since that's all they'll allow on TV. That's what is implied here. And if they cross the line and go with dark makeup, we are really in 1920's racist territory. Can you people not see this?

[Mark2100]

Maya was probably the most unfunny female comedian that SNL ever had contracted.

[Meah]

No, untrue. This actually reflects on your sense of humor, which is apparently wanting. Maya Rudolph is a scream.

[anti-ignorance]

Someone who goes so far as to describe someone else's humor as "a scream" might be lacking in the humor department themselves.

[RButler]

Maya is so good, she has me laughing almost before she says anything. She just creates the whole package whether she accurately looks like the person or not. I predict that if she does a good job of being Michelle that's really funny, people will object.

[Womanvoter4Obama]

Does SNL hate black women? There was one black woman a couple of seasons ago and I think she went to Mad TV and then Ellen Cleghorn..that's it. Ellen was on in the 90's or 80's. There are a lot of funny black women out there..so what's the damn deal?

[ohioan73]

You know...that's totally true. Ellen Cleghorn. That's it.

I liked Debra Wilson on Mad TV. I could totally picture her as Michelle Obama moreso than Rudolph.

[Dottedvoile]

I think SNL needs to start recruiting dark skinned women on their show...esp since there is a good chance michelle obama will be first lady.

[wagonjak]

I agree with all here who say SNL should find a REAL GENUWINE black woman...and maybe a real black guy for O...I don't think the recent guy is very good at O's speech patterns or movements...

Tina Fey...I always have to look twice to figure out if I'm seeing her or the real one...

[Meah]

Gosh, I wonder if Maya might object to not being considered a REAL GENUWINE black woman? Obama is also mixed race. Is he not a REAL GENUWINE black man? Enough with the skin shades issues! Let them do their thing. Maya is really good. So is Fred with Obama. SNL had the same guy playing Brokaw and Scheiffer. We got that they were two different people. Tina Fey is really unusual in her look alike qualities.

[BottomLine2008]

Uh, she doesn't look black to me.

Let's see, they have a stiff, unfunny white guy playing Barack.

Now this ...

Weird.

[robXdion]

Because Lorne Micheals and his largely white audience are afraid of real black people and certainly not having more than one around at a time.

[Meah]

Ugly comment and untrue.

BTW. Maya Rudolph is "black" like Barack Obama is "black". They both are also half white. I think Fred Armison, who plays Obama, is great. He doesn't have to be black. Remember, Obama is also half white. Get it?

[RaineyDay5]

Wow.....

[CaptainVideo]

I agree, the guy who plays Barak does not look very credible.

[anons]

he's just bad, he brings nothing to the role whatsoever....but its in line with snl. there's this tendency with them to just fill the black role with relative disregard to quality or accuracy...

[nichelle02]

They should hire this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0D1w2mjqzk&feature=channel

[Haditup2here]

Why couldn't they get someone like Erika Alexander to play Michelle Obama.

[RaineyDay5]

ding ding ding!!!! I like that choice! She would be GREAT!

[TallGrrl]

Yes! A great choice!!!

[cariosity]

that'd be awesome!

[ChangeSupporter]

Oh yes!!! Erika Alexander would definitely be a great choice! (You are thinking like a casting director Haditup2here!)

[zest]

Maya is one of the most underrated comedic actresses I have had the privilige to observe. Her performance in the film, granted a sleeper, "A Prarie Home Companion" with Merly Streep, Lilly Tomlin and Lindsay Lohan, was brilliantly underplayed and should have garnered much more praise. She has done her time on SNL, and if they did fire her which I don't know to be fact, is for the best for her career. It is time for Ms Rudolph to move on and move up. Give her great material and she will always reward with a great performance. And incidentally, she has a fantastic voice. Please, more Maya.

[Mysticalsister]

couldn't agree more about Maya and her amazing voice. I hope she gets a chance to sing.

[TallGrrl]

But she doesn't look like Michelle Obama.
People, is just putting someone up there that is kinda black supposed to be OK?
SNL went out of its way to make sure Tina Fey is the spitting image of Palin. And the same with the other cast members who play well-known people.
So, now they need a black woman to play Michelle Obama...and they get MAYA RUDOLPH? As if ANY black woman'll do because "she's kind of black, who'll know the difference"?
Please.

[indyleftist]

I haven't watched SNL since the Sandler/Farley Generation

As far as her playing Michelle Obama...She doesn't look much like her.
She was good in Idiocracy I thought so I think she'll be as good as SNL normally is

[butterworth]

Don't know how this will turn out. There is certainly NO physical resemblance here. Then again, I'm not a huge fan of Fred Armisen as B arack 0bama, either. Something about the way Armisen portrays him reminds me of a cross between a Vulcan and a dimwit. Darrell Hammond could be a bit creepier as M cCain as well.

Also...the SNL cast seems larger than ever. So why all the need for former cast members to return? (Not complaining about Fey as P alin, though.)