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With a Diversity Controversy Swirling Around ‘SNL,’ the Show Names an African-American Woman as Host

Oct 16, 2013  •  Post A Comment

One day after "Saturday Night Live" cast member Kenan Thompson made headlines talking about why the show has no African-American women in the cast, NBC revealed that the guest host for an upcoming installment of the sketch comedy show will be an African-American woman: Kerry Washington.

"The ‘Scandal’ star is hosting the NBC late-night show on Nov. 2, with Eminem as musical guest," CBS News reports. "It will be Washington’s ‘SNL’ debut and the sixth appearance on the show for the rapper. He is promoting his new album ‘The Marshall Mathers LP 2,’ which comes out Nov. 5."

Thompson addressed the show’s diversity issues in an interview with TV Guide, focusing in particular on the absence of African-American women from the lineup. The show has had only four in its history, and none since Maya Rudolph left in 2007, the report notes.

CBS News adds: "The week before Washington hosts, another star will take on hosting duties for his first time. Edward Norton will host the show on Oct. 26, with musical guest (and fellow ‘SNL’ first-timer) Janelle Monae."

kerry washington.pngKerry Washington

2 Comments

  1. Do black people even watch SNL? I do not.

  2. SNL has become so lame, so tacky, so humorless and so devoid of talent that it would be a mistake to suppose that anyone cares about the diversity or racial makeup of the cast (or guests).

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