'Saturday Night Live' reportedly hires 2 black female writers

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Hot on the heels of the news that Saturday Night Live is adding a black female performer, Sasheer Zamata, to its cast comes word that the NBC franchise may also be bringing on two African-American women to write for the show as well.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, LaKendra Tookes and Leslie Jones, who had previously auditioned for spot won by Zamata, are being hired to write sketches for the comedy institution.

Jones has a long resume as a stand up comedian and actress, appearing on Def Comedy Jam and the sitcoms like The League and Sullivan & Son. Tookes was previous a reported based in Florida and has performed at iO West.

This recent rise in diversity on SNL comes after widespread criticism over the fact that there was not a single performer of color among this season’s six new cast additions. Current black cast-members Kenan Thompson and Jay Pharoah both weighed in, and producer Lorne Michaels was put on the defensive.

Following a polarizing sketch in which the show poked fun at the controversy, news leaked the SNL was holding open auditions for women of color.

Zamata, a sketch comedy veteran with roots in the Upright Citizens Brigade (whose alum include Amy Poehler), makes her debut on the show on January 18th.  She is the first black woman to appear as a series regular since Maya Rudolph departed the show in 2007.