Do you have a favorite player or sketch from Saturday Night Live? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The late-night sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live has been bringing laughter to our weekends with hysterical parodies and celebrity impressions for 50 years. The show started out as a whacky collection of satirical sketches from a scrappy group of unknown white comedians in 1975. Black players, like the show’s firsts, comedian Eddie Murphy, and bit player Yvonne Hudson, both introduced in 1980, found themselves working mainly as stereotypical characters, even using the N-word at times. Making matters worse, Black female cast members were noticeably missing, causing backlash from fans and forcing the show to change with the times.
What hasn’t changed is the show’s irreverence, meaning it will “go there,” whether it’s race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, anatomy, politics, pop culture and crude language—to the delight of many and the distaste of many. Some older sketches have aged better than others. Some newer ones hit better than others. But the players’ talents transcend the material.
The SNL stage has catapulted many Black comedians into the national spotlight. Many have gone on to become household names, namely cast members Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan, Kenan Thompson (the longest running cast member) and Damon Wayans (who’s “Two Snaps Up” character from “In Living Color” was born on SNL). But what about the sisters? How many Black female cast members have made their mark on Studio 8H? Leslie Jones, my friend in my head, immediately comes to mind, of course. And there’s Yvonne Hudson and a few others (some readers will remember, and some will be schooled today).
Here’s the rundown on all of the Black women who were crowned funny enough to snag a spot on the SNL cast or as a featured player, along with, according to me, their funniest sketches.
Ego Nwodim
Formerly of Los Angeles’ Upright Citizens Brigade improv comedy group and the creator of her 2018 one-woman show “Great Black Women and Then There's Me.” Nwodim is the only Black female cast member on the show today.
Hometown Baltimore, MD
Years Active Featured player 2018 to 2024. Cast member Sept 2024 to present
Best Known Characters Her “dead on” Dionne Warwick impression and the incredibly rude Lisa from Temecula
Funniest Sketch “Lisa from Temecula, Cook My Meat” with Pedro Pascal and Punkie Johnson. Lisa (Nwodim) is out to dinner with her sister’s friends but disrupts the entire dinner with her inconsiderate ways.
Other Projects Her podcast, Thanks Dad (2024), Peacock’s Mr. Throwback (2024), and featured roles on Law & Order: True Crime (2017), 2 Broke Girls, K.C. Undercover and more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxxCaw74ptk
Punkie Johnson
Johnson’s first job in comedy was waitressing at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles before finding her way on stage as a comic. A SNL featured player, she left the show in August 2024 after deciding sketch comedy wasn’t for her.
Hometown New Orleans
Years Active Featured player 2020 - 2024
Best Known Characters Playing herself, a proud gay woman, on the news segment, “Weekend Update”
Funniest Sketch Angel Reese on “Weekend Update.” Johnson plays the WNBA star with unapologetic swagger.
Other Projects Bottoms (2023) and HBO Max’s Love Life, featured roles on HBO’s Black Lady Sketch Show, Adam Ruins Everything, Netflix’s Space Force and CBS’ Ghosts.
Sasheer Zamata
A former member of New York’s Upright Citizen’s Brigade improv comedy troupe, Zamata caught SNL’s attention while performing stand up around New York City.
Hometown Indianapolis