Taran Killam, Jay Pharoah land Showtime pilots following 'SNL' exit

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah are set to star in new Showtime pilots following their exit from Saturday Night Live.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the pilots announced for the network Thursday during the Television Critics Association summer press tour are comedies that were in the works before Killam and Pharoah were let go from SNL.

"It's been happening over the last several weeks, probably over a month, individually," said Showtime president and CEO David Nevins, adding that the network was going to schedule around the sketch comedy series but that things "got easier when they ended up being released."

Killam's pilot, entitled Mating, was described as an anthology series about a newly divorced male who married young and is attempting to re-enter the ever-changing world of dating. The series is said to feature a different protagonist each season.

Pharoah's pilot, White Famous, which is being executive produced by Jamie Foxx, stars the comedian as on up-and-coming comic who is having to deal with becoming popular and mainstream.

Both Killam and Pharoah shared their excitement about their new pilot deals on Twitter, with Pharoah sharing a photo of himself enjoying a bottle of Grey Goose to celebrate with the caption "Current Mood" while Killam wrote, "Very excited to be a part of this team I've respected for years!!! Clear eyes, Full hearts!!!! #Mating."