Black women not funny enough for SNL

[suestorm]

Posted: 10/15/13 at 4:36pm

this is hard to believe and not just cuz hes the unfunniest person on the show. me thinks he knows how to kiss major derriere!

Kenan Thompson Thinks Black Women Aren't Funny Enough for SNL

In 38 years, a mere 2.9% of Saturday Night Live's cast has been both female and black. But according to a man who played Pierre Escargot on national television for half a decade, the reason Saturday Night Live has no black women on air is because black women aren't good enough to be on SNL.

Oh. Word?

In an interview with TV Guide, SNL cast regular Kenan Thompson was asked what the show would do, now that Thompson no longer wants to play cross-dressing roles just to spoof black female characters. Rather than address the lack of diversity on SNL, Thompson blamed black female comedians for just not being good enough.

Instead of blaming showrunner Lorne Michaels or the series, which currently only employs three actors of color out of 16 cast members (Thompson, Pharaoh and the Iranian Nasim Pedrad), Thompson blames the lack of quality black female comedians. "It's just a tough part of the business," Thompson says. "Like in auditions, they just never find ones that are ready."
There hasn't been a black woman on the show in six years, and in its 38-year history, there have only been four black females on the show, out of 137 repertory and featured cast members. Only three were repertory players—Danitra Vance, Ellen Cleghorne, Maya Rudolph. Yvonne Hudson, the first black female cast member was only a featured player, and was fired halfway through her first season.

It's no secret that SNL has a major diversity problem.


http://defamer.gawker.com/kenan-thompson-thinks-black-women-arent-funny-enough-f-1445835115http://defamer.gawker.com/kenan-thompson-thinks-black-women-arent-funny-enough-f-1445835115

Updated On: 10/15/13 at 04:36 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/15/13 at 8:38pm

That's not what he said.

"It's just a tough part of the business," Thompson says. "Like in auditions, they just never find ones that are ready."

How does that equate to him thinking black women aren't funny enough? He's not the one auditioning & bringing in talent. They also seem to enjoy poking fun at one bit he did on All That 20 years ago. Grasping at straws much?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/17/13 at 12:13pm

Grasping at straws. It's what she does. It's what she's known for. It's one of her "things" and it's part of her agenda.

Doesn't surprise me one bit.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/17/13 at 1:18pm

She's The MOST DANGEROUS Poster on BWW!

[suestorm]

Posted: 10/17/13 at 1:34pm

I know alot of SNL fans are like GLEE fans. see no evil.... but i gave no opinion here, i just lifted the article. In 38 years, a mere 2.9% of Saturday Night Live's cast has been both female and black. thats a fact. THeir lack of diversity is appalling, especially when they are so political on other stuff.

Theaterfan,, the point was that kenan was making excuses and letting the producers off the hook. kissing the arse of the hand that feeds him.

Here is TIME MAGAZINE:

Unsurprisingly, the idea that there just weren’t enough candidates — especially when put forth by a comedian who is himself African-American — drew near-instant criticism and suggestions for people who prove Thompson wrong.

There’s no counter-argument to the fact of SNL‘s lack of diversity; just count the cast members and it’s clear. There’s also no rebutting the existence of many talented and successful African-American comediennes, and the odds that, were casting one of them a top priority, it’s likely one could be found who would be “ready” for the show. But it’s also the case that the show’s producers don’t operate in a vacuum.

Read more: http://entertainment.time.com/2013/10/17/kerry-washington-kenan-thompson-and-black-women-on-snl/#ixzz2i0A1I8s9

Updated On: 10/17/13 at 01:34 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/17/13 at 1:45pm

Sue, you yourself zero 0% woman. So who are you to talk?

So as a failed play-write, what about this trolling interests you? You could not care less about gender or racial diversity on SNL, as proven by equating it with Glee for some reason. So is this research for another unproduceable play?

[suestorm]

Posted: 10/17/13 at 1:50pm

no idea what youre talking about Joe
back on topic do you agree? about the 2.9?

if you reread it i said GLEE FANS not GLEE

Updated On: 10/17/13 at 01:50 PM

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 10/17/13 at 1:53pm

Oh, man, SOMEBODY please PM me, too. I simply MUST know.