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

[shockjock]

and Condi Rice

[MsBrina]

What? *blank stare*

[philosopherkingtomas]

what about a parody of McCain's October Surprise ASHLEY TODD !

[ritenow]

STOP IT ALREADY WITH THE WHO'S BLACK ENOUGH GARBAGE.

It's still true that "you've got to be taught before it's too late, before you are six or seven or eight, to hate all the people your relatives hate -- you've got to be carefully taught!"

[lilkunta]

ritenow:
who said that line? It is so sad.

[dollphingurl]

nobody's hating, just making observations and expressing opinions about casting. and the lack of true diversity on SNL....wha­t black female SNL regulars can you name besides Ellen Cleghorne and Maya Rudolph?

[honestpolitician]

are we gonna paint this one black 2??

C'mon ...I can see with Obama since he is half black half white...bu­t Michelle is %100 black! (And beautiful) - yummy.. =)

Anyhow, SNL is the best show ever....we­ll maybe not better than Countdown with Kieth Olbermann.­..

POLITICAL TV AD ATTACKS!! http://politicaladattacks.blogspot.com/

[jeniferdaniels]

now come on...that makes no sense...Ma­ya is a black woman period...a­nd they don't have to paint her face - she is BLACK! good lord.

acting is not about mimicry, it is about embodiment­...can she embody the character ...I can put darker make up on and a wig and mimic Michelle - does that make it authentic - no.

[pibble]

Yeah, a lot of the replies in this thread make literally no sense. And/or are flat-out racist in the guise of anti-racism. I wonder if the people posting these asinine comments think MAYBE matching up the "correct" skin tone was NOT their primary concern when casting this part? That MAYBE acting skills were more of a concern than "is her skin the right shade?"

[deckard70]

Yeah, since when have plays used costumes and makeup and wigs?

[Friday025]

"acting is not about mimicry, it is about embodiment"

good point.

[lilkunta]

honestPolitician:
I disagree. The best tv show ever is Huxtables & Bernie Mac.
I to like Keith Olberman. He, Rachel Maddown, & Anderson Cooper are great.

[kcnativnla]

Is the world in such a short supply of funny black women, and funny black men that they have to paint up a white guy to cast Barack and go back to the Maya Rudolph well to cast Michelle? Give me a break!

Keenan is one of the funniest cast members and they regulate him to throwaway sketches. I sense a disturbing pattern (you too, Daily Show!).

[sheraz]

Keenan is so unfunny, thats why he's in throwaways. He was sorta funny to my kid during his Nickelodeon years. I still have no clue how he's managed to stay on this SNL all these years.

And from Wikipedia.­..........

"Maya Rudolph was born in Gainesville, Florida, the daughter of the late soul singer Minnie Riperton (a.k.a. Andrea Davis) and composer, songwriter and producer Richard Rudolph. Her father is Jewish and her mother African American."

[kcnativnla]

I knew Keenan was on Nickelodeon, but I didn't watch him. To each his own. I think he's hilarious in almost everything he's been in.

I know who Maya Rudolph is.

Neither of these points addresses my question: Is the world in such a short supply of funny black women, and funny black men that they have to paint up a white guy to cast Barack and go back to the Maya Rudolph well to cast Michelle?

[jetbanana]

Wait, let me guess, it will be a Michelle Ma Belle love fest. They would not dare diss her as they do Gov Palin. Maybe it will make Michelle even more proud to be an American (finally.)

[marred]

Are you kidding? And just what could they possibly send up about MIchelle Obama? Palin on the other hand is a comedian's dream!

[jj]

While I like Armisen, his Obama sucks.

[KareninSac]

I miss Maya, and I think she's a great talent.

But, SNL needs to get a clue. Why don't you have black people on your show to represent other blacks? Maya is bi-racial, like Obama, but not Michelle. Fred--not black.

It's time to turn the page, and have your cast represent what America really looks like. Mix it up and cast more than just white people.

[votedemo]

I totally agree!

[lilkunta]

kareninSac:
She was very good @ doing so many characters.
I dont get why she was fired in nov 07.
SNL didnt tell her goodbye or anything the way they did goodbyes to Tina and will do goodbye to Amy next month.

[whit4brains]

Yay! I love Maya Rudolph!

[Meadow1]

I think Maya will surprise us at how good she will do Michelle Obama. She is very talented.

After all Fred Armistan (sp?) does a great Barack Obama and his skin tone is not the same as Baracks.

[leftoflennon]

Wow!

These alums keep coming back!

AWESOME!

Saturday is gonna be GREAT!

[shockjock]

Can't wait for John Belushi to make his return.

[Swerinjer2]

She needs to use those gag hick teeth to impersonate michelle.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

A sharp tongue does not mean you have a keen mind

[IndependentTogether]

I don't see her as Michelle O. However, she could do a great Dr. Susan Rice...

[PazPraSempre]

I remember people crying out racist when they cast Fred Armisen (half Hispanic half white) as Barack Obama, but the only Black cast member on SNL is Keenan Thompson -- short, dark and fat - - polar opposite of Obama.
I think Armisen is alright (He has the voice well) but the material in general has been bad). Then again, the McCain-Palin team write the jokes for SNL.
Really, would it kill Lorne Michaels to maybe cast one less white guy and instead cast a Hispanic or Asian or Black woman? And maybe while they're at it, get someone who's actually funny? How many douchey white guys can SNL truly take?