For the first time in over a decade, Saturday Night Live is heading into a new season without a single Black woman in its lineup.
The change comes after Ego Nwodim, who joined the sketch comedy series in 2018, announced her departure last month. With season 51 about to kick off, the gap has sparked conversations about representation on one of television’s most influential stages.
On her talk show Sherri this week, Sherri Shepherd addressed the issue head-on.
“When I watched Saturday Night Live this weekend, I did notice something was missing: Ego Nwodim left the show,” Shepherd said. “She was their only Black female cast member, so now there are no Black women on SNL. So what do I say to SNL? Y’all gotta hurry up and you gotta find somebody, this is a break glass in case of an emergency. It is an emergency.”
Nwodim, who spent seven seasons on the show, reflected on her exit in a statement last month. “I am immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support and friendship,” she wrote. “Week after week on that stage taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I will carry those memories (and that laughter) with me always.”
Shepherd explained why the absence of Black women is more than just a numbers issue—it affects the show’s ability to parody the culture it claims to reflect.
“When I cohosted The View, there was no Black woman on the show to play me,” she recalled. “There was no Black woman to even play Whoopi [Goldberg]—Kenan Thompson would play Whoopi at the table when they spoofed us!”
Shepherd also pointed back to a 2009 sketch where guest host Tracy Morgan portrayed her. “They had Tracy Morgan in that old, tired Shake-N-Go wig looking like he sits third row at church and serves the dinner after service,” she said, laughing.
While Shepherd acknowledged that SNL is still “trying to get your bearings” after Nwodim’s departure, she urged producers not to drag their feet.
“What I don’t like hearing is ‘we can’t find anybody.’ There are lots of talented Black female comics that you can cast on SNL,” she said, name-dropping comedians Tacarra Williams, B-Phlat, Yamaneika Saunders, and Robin Montague.
Her message was simple: “SNL, do not disappoint us. You are charged!”