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

[kellygrrrl]

YAY!

Welcome Home, Maya!

[LitPark]

Love both of these ladies. I hope she wears the big purple feather pin!

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

Couldn't they have asked Wanda Sykes or someone who at least resembles Michelle's skin tone a bit more?

Don't get me wrong, I adore Maya Rudolph and think she's just remarkable. It just seems odd to me.

[pibble]

Maybe... just MAYBE... "skin tone" wasn't their primary consideration for casting a role. It seems to be a big concern of yours, though.

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

Obviously it wasn't. Thanks for taking my comment out of context, however. If you look at my picture in my profile it should be glaringly obvious that "skin tone" isn't a big concern for me since I'm an African American.

Just a thought, but a little thought before making a snarky comment goes a long LONG way...

[newpotusplease]

SHE DOESN'T EVEN LOOK LIKE MICHELLE OBAMA

AND THE GUY THEY HAVE PLAYING BARACK IS NOT FUNNY, JUST AWFUL

SNL HAD NO INTEREST IN BLACK FOLK TIL NOW-SAD

TINA FEY WAS THE ONLY I WATCHED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS OTHERWISE I HAVE NOT WATCHED SNL FOR A LONG TIME- THEY ARE TACKY AND NOT FUNNY ANYMORE.....

[JustSteve]

I don't mean to point this out, but...

they don't REALLY need to look too much like the Obamas to play them...

For those who remember the beginnings... maybe the funniest presidential portrayal was Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford... priceless...

I agree though, I don't like Armisen's Barack, but that is mostly writing. He has had a few moments of amusement... the replay of the second debate had some good moments.

So, I'll keep my fingers crossed that they do some decent writing and put together some funny stuff.

[auntpajamy]

maya rudolph is bi-racial. her late mother, minnie riperton, was black. she sang -loving you.

[MsBrina]

WOW! I didn't know that. I love me some Minnie. OMG!

[EllaBee]

and the end of loving you she sings MAYA's name

[GG1985]

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.

[NickNas]

I guess I have to join the Millons of other Black voices when I ask.

Are there NO Talented BLACK women out there to play this role??

I am just sayin'

Of course you can counter me with all of the Black actors and Actresses who are making a living playing WHITE people..........

Just Wondering.

[CandyLu]

Maya is black, she is Minne Riperton's daughter
But your right about whoever is playing barack

[situationcritical]

Maya Rudolph is incredibly talented.

She's the daughter of the late R&B singer Minnie Riperton, btw.

[theborg]

Maya is a black woman. Just like Mariah, black women come in many shades.

[pibble]

I guess I have to join the millions of sane voices when I ask, what the heck is wrong with you?

Maya Rudolph is biracial, she has a black parent and a white parent. She's as black as Barack Obama, in other words. Are you applying some kind of brown paper bag test? Is she not black "enough" for you?

I'm just sayin'.

[strawberryjulius]

They chose Maya because the pool of black female SNL Alums are so shallow. That is why they tapped Queen Latifah to play Gwen Ifill. Loren Michaels should have sought a woman who looks more like Michelle Obama. I know that you want to say that this is reverse racism. That's simply not true. It's about the media not casting enough black women, or asian or latina women for that matter. There are few successful minority women in television and film. Those few are cast over and over again whether or not their appearance is appropriate for the role. A good example would be the casting of famous chinese actresses to play japanese prostitutes in Memoirs of a Geisha. There are other comedians that could have been cast in the role. Vanessa Fraction or Sonia D would have been fine choices. Try to look outside of yourself and your own experiences and see this from different points of view.

[ladyv]

Well...Maya is biracial.

She looks nothing at all like Michelle Obama, but she is biracial. Her mom was singer Minnie Riperton, of "Lovin You...Is Easy Cuz You're Beautiful" fame.

IMO if they can't just freaking hire some black actors I wish they'd just have an invisible Obama. Everyone can act like he's there. Or just have random people play him to go with his assertion that people project what they want to see onto him. Armisen is an insult.

[SHOPARAZZI]

she rocks! why'd she leave i wonder? she's so beautiful and always in character.

[AMonkey]

She had a baby. Maybe she wanted to take a break from acting for a while.

[twisted-european]

Maya was great in 'Idiocracy'. If That Old One wins, this movie might as well be a documentary. ;-)

[ChristianDem08]

BTW, Maya is bi-racial. Race does not matter IMO. She's very funny so, I think she'll be fine. Darrell Hammond does a very good Jesse Jackson. However, Fred Armisen is horrible as Obama. They really need to find somebody, who can play Obama. It doesn't matter if he's black, white, or latino, just make it believable. Actually, Jay Leno had a guy on during the primaries who did a much better job as Obama.

[irtrad17]

I'm pretty sure that Maya Rudolph is bi - racial that is, as all of us are if you look at our DNA

[Dupree]

I am the first one that does like to transcend all racial barriers but I will have to confess I as a woman of African American/ Native American descent resents the fact that SNL seems unable to find any talented African Americans to play the roles of African Americans. It reminds me of the time when white actors use to dress up in black makeup and danced on the stage when it was unlawful to hire African Americans although back in the days they called us Negroes. And even when one found a talented African American dancer...they would have to dress them in black face makeup with the big white paint on for the lips...because they had to hide the fact that the person was indeed an actual person of color. I recognize she is a biracial product of Minnie Rippleton and her father who is a white producer...but she looks nothing like Michelle and therefore will have to wear real dark make up to pull it off...it appears they did the same thing with the Obama character as well. But now I am beginning to see a pattern of which I do not appreciate.

[shag11]

Dupree,
I at first thought the same thing, but then I remembered that, Minnie Ripperton was married to Dick Rudolph, who is white and a producer. Then I rememer that this is their daughter, so just in Barack's case, she is bi-racial. If anything, they could have found someone darker-skinned to more closely match Michelle. Minnie was very light-skinned herself.

[brandill]

Mya is black. Not sure if you knew that. Her mom is the late famous Minny Rippleton. We come in all shades, so I am willing to SNL some leverage on the issue. African Americans are not as easy to cast as other races that only have one skin tone.

[mikemedeiros]

Before you make sweeping statements do some research. Yes, Minnie was her mom but her father was not black , he was Jewish .

[PazPraSempre]

What race has only one skin tone?

[1984everyday]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOzdIvNmB8o

[Strepsi]

Love Maya, but totally agree -- especially since the Touring Second City companies in Chicago and Toronto all have hilarious black comedians, men and women -- why not give one a break?

CHRISTINA ANTHONY - chicago
http://secondcity.com/?id=theatres/chicago/mainstage/cast

DARRYL HINDS - toronto (the show now is "Barack to the Future"! ;)
http://secondcity.com/?id=theatres/toronto/mainstage/cast

Incredibly, the Detroit SC seems all-white....?

[MarcInCA]

Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, and now Maya Rudolph. I guess even SNL's now admitting that the current cast sucks you know what?

[thenvoteObama]

Anyone up for a Prince Show sketch?