“Saturday Night Live” dipped into its own history to find a replacement for legendary announcer Don Pardo, who died last month after working as the show’s announcer for virtually its entire run.
Writing in The New York Times, Bill Carter reports that the venerable NBC late-night show named Darrell Hammond, who was a performer on “SNL” from 1995 through 2009, as Pardo’s replacement. Hammond ranks as the longest-serving performer in the history of the show, the story adds.
“He also had the distinction of quietly subbing for Mr. Pardo on several occasions when the announcer could not do the show for health reasons. Mr. Hammond, who was among the best impressionists in the history of ’SNL,’ read … the introductions in the famous Pardo voice,” the story adds.
Replacing the longtime announcer was something that Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator and executive producer, said he never wanted to do.
“There were a lot of sweet ideas about carrying on with Don somehow,” Michaels told the publication. “Because everyone has a Pardo impression. But he had the greatest run and he’s a completely beloved figure. So I thought: Don’t turn this into something else. That period ended.”
Darrell Hammond
Somehow I said his name before I even read it! Great choice! Mr. Hammond is the real deal and will do well. Congratulations to “SNL” in keeping with TRADITION!