So Lorne Michaels told the Times. He also stressed that Fred Armisen is still the show’s “backbone.”

-saturdaynightlive:

Just if you were curious as to where the inspiration for Mr. Frye came from!

Comic’s Comic blogger Sean McCarthy — who previously revealed that Vanessa Bayer, Paul Brittain and Taran Killam were likely to join the cast for the upcoming season — claims that 22-year-old comedian Jay Pharoah is in talks to be added to the cast as well. Pharoah flew to New York twice in August to test with Lorne Michaels and, apparently, the meetings went fairly well.

Pharoah is well known for his Obama impression. Sorry Fred Armisen!