
It took 45 years, but Saturday Night Live has finally hired an Asian American cast member to join its ensemble, reports Deadline.
Bowen Yang will be one of three new faces on the program next season. The others are Chloe Fineman and Shane Gillis.
SNL hired Yang as a writer last season and he announced with enthusiasm that Sandra Oh would host the program last March. He’s also built a following as co-host of the podcast Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers. The pair focus on gay topics and popular culture. According to Wikipedia, Yang identifies as gay.
In January, he is set to premier in Awkwafina is Nora from Queens. The series on Comedy Central will feature its namesake as well as Yang as Awkwafina’s cousin.
Although Yang is being heralded as the first Asian American to join the SNL cast, that is not true. Former SNLer Rob Schneider is a quarter Filipino. Fred Armisen is a quarter Korean.
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