Lorne Michaels’ next hire at Saturday Night Live? It might be comedian Kam Patterson.
That’s according to TMZ, which reported Friday that the 26-year-old comic is on the short list to join the show’s Season 51 cast.
If selected, Patterson would likely be a controversial pick in some circles, mostly due to the company he keeps.
Patterson rose to fame just six months into his standup career on the “Kill Tony” podcast (where he’s now a regular) and counts its host Tony Hinchcliffe, Shane Gillis, and Joe Rogan among his biggest champions.
The Florida-born comic currently boasts more than a million followers across Instagram and TikTok.
Patterson also has some SNL connections. He has a role in the upcoming David Spade and Theo Von buddy comedy Busboys, and this summer shot a part in Kevin Hart’s upcoming Netflix film 72 Hours, which also counts Marcello Hernández and Please Don’t Destroy’s Ben Marshall in its cast. (If we’re to believe another pre-season rumor, Marshall could also be joining SNL’s main cast this year.)
In an interview with Puck’s Matt Belloni last week, Lorne Michaels teased an SNL cast shakeup ahead of Season 51, and the last few days have borne that out, with news of four cast departures (Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow, Heidi Gardner), and perhaps more to come
LateNighter understands that in-studio auditions for incoming cast members were held two weeks ago. Final casting decisions aren’t expected until next week at the earliest.
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latenighter, we know you are sourced up… can you let us know about the veracity of this? (would be disappointing if true!)
pulling for carl tart, lisa gilroy, and jeremy culhane!
latenighter has zero sources. they lied about Longfellow being screen tested for Weekend Update (he wasn’t).
Lorne determined to get some of that brocasting sugar