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Two new comedians join ‘SNL’

Michaela Watkins and Abby Elliott will replace new mom Amy Poehler

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Access Hollywood
updated 8:16 p.m. ET Nov. 12, 2008

NEW YORK - “Saturday Night Live” is adding two female cast members, an NBC source confirmed to Access Hollywood.

The new members are comedians Michaela Watkins (“The New Adventures of Old Christine”) and Abby Elliott (“King of the Hill”).

New York Magazine’s Vulture blog was the first to report the news on Wednesday, based on a Twitter post from media blogger Rachel Sklar.

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Abby Elliott, the daughter of Chris Elliott, is the first child of a former cast member to be hired in the show’s 34-season history.

The pair will be filling the gap left by Amy Poehler, the popular “Weekend Update” anchor who left the show recently to give birth to son Archie Arnett. When she returns from maternity leave, Poehler will be working with the creators of “The Office” on a new sitcom for NBC.

No word on if Watkins and Elliott will appear on “SNL” this coming Saturday, although an announcement is expected tomorrow.

The Nov. 15 show will be hosted by Paul Rudd (“Role Models”) with musical guest Beyonce.

Copyright 2009 by NBC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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