Lorne Michaels’ most controversial addition to Saturday Night Live’s Season 51 cast apparently did not immediately agree to join the show.
That’s according to Kam Patterson’s father, who spoke with Orlando Weekly last week, shortly after the announcement that the 26-year-old comic would be joining SNL as a featured player.
The elder Patterson told the outlet that his son weighed the offer for about a week before accepting. “They wanted him to start on Sept. 12, but he wants to push it to the 22nd,” he said. “We should know soon.”
With Patterson still scheduled to perform stand-up shows Sept. 11–13 in Las Vegas and Sept. 18–20 in Buffalo, it appears the show acquiesced. (Previously booked dates in Pittsburgh later in September and Nashville in early October have been canceled.)
Patterson first broke out on Kill Tony, Tony Hinchcliffe’s hit podcast and live variety show, where he was named a regular after just one appearance. “I truly believe this is the future,” Hinchcliffe said at the time, calling Patterson “a phenom.” Patterson also counts Joe Rogan and Shane Gillis among his champions.
In addition to his stand-up work, Patterson has landed roles in two upcoming film comedies: Busboys, the self-financed project from Theo Von and SNL alum David Spade, and Kevin Hart’s 72 Hours, which also features the comic’s new SNL castmates Marcello Hernández and Ben Marshall.
Patterson joins SNL as a featured player alongside Marshall, Veronika Slowikowska, Jeremy Culhane, and Tommy Brennan. The show’s 51st season is scheduled to premiere Oct. 4.
For someone who’s one of the hackiest stand-ups with the least amount of acting experience the show has hired in some time, this is not a good move, but I at least appreciate him being loyal to the stand-up venues.
Do we really need 6 featured players. I bet my right arm they all won’t appear for more than 30 mins of air time throughout the whole season.