Abby Elliott And Michaela Watkins Join SNL Cast

 

With Tina Fey and Amy Poehler out, ‘Saturday Night Live’ has added two two fresh faces to fill the shoes of the show’s recently departed female superstars.

NBC announced on Thursday that Abby Elliott and Michaela Watkins have joined the show this week as featured players.

Elliott comes from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, an improv/sketch company co-founded by Poehler. Not only that, Elliott is a second-generation “SNL” cast member whose father, Chris Elliott, was a regular on the show during the 1994-95 season. Abby’s grandfather, Bob Elliott, was half of the legendary comedy duo Bob & Ray.

Watkins comes from the Groundlings comedy troupe, launching pad of past “SNL” players including Will Ferrell, Phil Hartman, Laraine Newman and current cast member Kristen Wiig.

Poehler last performed on the show’s Oct. 23 prime-time special. She gave birth to a son, Archie Arnett, hours before she was to appear on the Oct. 25 broadcast. Fey left the cast two years ago and now stars on the sitcom “30 Rock,” but has made regular guest appearances on SNL with her Sarah Palin impression during the presidential race this year.