Sherri Shepherd is calling out Saturday Night Live for its lack of diversity, urging the late-night sketch comedy series to hire another Black woman quickly following Ego Nwodim’s departure ahead of season 51.
The actress and comedian said on Monday’s episode of her daytime talk show, Sherri, that it’s “so important” to “have representation on that show.”
“When I watched Saturday Night Live this weekend, I did notice something was missing: Ego Nwodim left the show,” Shepherd said. “She was their only Black female cast member, so now there are no Black women on SNL. So what do I say to SNL? Y’all gotta hurry up and you gotta find somebody, this is a break glass in case of an emergency. It is an emergency.”
Last month, Nwodim announced that she had decided to leave the show after seven seasons. “I am immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support and friendship,” she wrote at the time. “Week after week on that stage taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I will carry those memories (and that laughter) with me always.”
Shepherd went on to point out why representation is particularly important on a show like SNL that centers on parodying other people.
“When I cohosted The View, there was no Black woman on the show to play me,” she recalled. “There was no Black woman to even play Whoopi [Goldberg] — Kenan Thompson would play Whoopi at the table when they spoofed us! Then there was no Black woman to play me, so I was never sitting at the table.” Shepherd co-hosted The View from 2007 to 2014.
“Then they had the nerve, when Tracy Morgan guest hosted, Tracy Morgan played me on the daggone show,” she continued with a laugh, referencing the sketch during SNL‘s 34th season in 2009. “They had Tracy Morgan in that old, tired Shake-N-Go wig looking like he sits third row at church and serves the dinner after service. He’s even still got a five o’clock shadow!”
While Shepherd said she understands the NBC show is still “trying to get your bearings” with Nwodim leaving so shortly before the season 51 premiere, she also reiterated the urgency to get another Black woman hired.
“What I don’t like hearing is ‘we can’t find anybody, we can’t find anybody.’ There are lots of talented Black female comics that you can cast on SNL,” she added. “If you go to any comedy club or improv place, they are out there waiting for this opportunity, getting ready for this very opportunity.”
Shepherd even took a moment to recommend a few “hysterical” comedians who have appeared on her talk show, including Tacarra Williams, B-Phlat and Yamaneika Saunders, as well as her show’s comedy producer Robin Montague.
“SNL, do not disappoint us. You are charged!” she said.
Ahead of SNL‘s 51st season, the show hired five new castmembers, including Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska. But with Nwodim leaving, this is the first cast to not feature a Black woman castmember for the first time since 2014.
