TV

Pharoah to play Obama on 'SNL'

President Barack Obama speaks at the Pentagon to commemorates the 11th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks , on September, 11, 2012 in Arlington, Virginia UPI/Olivier Douliery/Pool

License photo

Published: Sept. 14, 2012 at 5:21 PM

NEW YORK, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels says Jay Pharoah will play U.S. President Barack Obama on the new season of the sketch comedy show.

Best known for his impersonations of actors Denzel Washington and Eddie Murphy, Pharoah takes over the role of Obama from Fred Armisen, who will remain a cast member on "SNL," The Hill said.

"I just thought it might be time to shake it up," Michaels told The New York Times, adding Armisen is "the backbone of the show now."

"SNL" veterans Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg left the show last spring.

Topics: Lorne Michaels, Barack Obama, Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy, Andy Samberg

© 2012 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints

Most Popular Collections

'Star Trek Into Darkness' screening	NBC upfronts	Met Ball 2013
'Great Gatsby' premieres in New York	Spire raised on top of One WTC	2013: Celebrity break ups and divorces

Additional TV Stories
Entertainment News Denmark's De Forest the betting fave for Eurovision Song finals MALMO, Sweden, May 18 (UPI) -- Oddsmakers pegged Emmelie de Forest as the favorite to win the Eurovision Song Contest finals in Sweden Saturday. Movie starring Depardieu, Hurley filming in Chechnya Sedaris film to be screened at opening of Outfest film festival Seating at Billboard awards indicate Bieber, Gomez reconciliation Marton Csokas tapped as villain in 'The Equalizer'	Top News Dozens injured at Appalachian Trail Days parade in Damascus, Va. DAMASCUS, Va., May 18 (UPI) -- Dozens of people were injured Saturday when a car in the Appalachian Trail Days parade in Damascus, Va., plowed into the crowd. Under the U.S. Supreme Court: Islamic law in U.S. courts Guantanamo inmates cost U.S. $900,000 each per year The Issue: Minnesota latest state to recognize same-sex marriage The Issue: The 2013 farm bill
Business News Auto Outlook: Is the driving boom over; domestic cars quality up U.S. automakers win "Total Quality" awards Consumer Corner: Digitizing eating out Gallup: Family of four needs an average $58,000 a year Bloomberg hires consultants to handle privacy breach problem DirecTV mulls purchase of Hulu	Odd News Your Daily Horoscope UPI horoscopes for Sunday, May 19, 2013. The almanac Sheep attack hiker on Israel National Trail Pup Banjo, rescued from train tracks, is adopted Bagpiper finds rare set of pipes at auction

Chaz Bono 65 lbs weight loss: I really like what I see

eBay seller: Nicolas Cage is a vampire

Student killed in home invasion

Soap actor Dylan Patton arrested for selling cocaine

Navy identifies SEAL who died at Fort Knox

View Caption

Enlarge Photo

Greek national flags fly over Tiananmen Square during Greece's Prime Minister Antonis Samaras state visit to Beijing on May 16, 2013. Samaras is in China seeking investment and trade deals to help revive his country's recession-battered economy. UPI/Stephen Shaver

Mount Pavlof erupts in Alaska. Just the thought makes me drool

The most unromantic proposals of all time

School discontinues Mother's Day and Father's Day because some kids might have two moms or two dads...

"All right, pop quiz. Apartment complex, gunman with one hostage. He's using her for cover; he's...

Your dog is trapped inside that house fire, but can I make you a sales pitch?

Coming up in a bit it's Livingston Stapler Company Presents. Three hours of live music hosted by...

UPI.com is your trusted source for world news, top news, science news, health news and current events.
We thank you for visiting us and we hope that we will be your daily stop for news updates.