SNL officially adds six new cast members, promotes Cecily Strong to Weekend Update

We’re one week away from the start of the first formal week of Saturday Night Live‘s 39th season, but NBC and SNL officially made a number of cast changes today.

To wit:

SIX new cast members. They are, in alphabetical order and pictured above: Beck Bennett, John Milhiser, Kyle Mooney, Mike O’Brien, Noël Wells and Brooks Whelan.

ONE new “Weekend Update” co-anchor: Cecily Strong, receiving this huge promotion in her sophomore season.

And ONE cast member reverting to writing staff only: Tim Robinson, also entering his sophomore season with the show.

There also are THREE new writers on staff. Among them: Michael Che (who wrote for a couple of weeks last season on a trial basis), Claire Mulaney (sister of former SNL writer John Mulaney), and Mikey Day.

As well as TWO changes among the head writers: Rob Klein joins Colin Jost as head writers, with Seth Meyers transitioning out as both head writer and Weekend Update anchor — as he’ll be hosting Late Night come February 2014.

Congrats to all involved.

Season 39 of SNL debuts Sept. 28, 2013, with Tina Fey hosting and Arcade Fire as musical guest.

Lorne Michaels discussed some of this season’s cast changes with the New York Times, and revealed that he’d like to see Meyers continue in some capacity (if not fully) at the Update desk next year.

Meyers and Strong already have the banter down via social media, as witnessed over the weekend:

SNLWeekendUpdate-Update-CecilyStrong-coanchor-2013

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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