Abby Elliott and Michaela Watkins Join SNL Cast

Elliott and Watkins to Replace Amy Poehler and Tina Fey

It has been announced that Abby Elliott and Michaela Watkins will be joining the cast of Saturday Night Live this season, replacing veterans Amy Poehler and Tina Fey.

Poehler and Fey leave Saturday Night Live

Amy Poehler left SNL last month on Oct. 23. Two days later she gave birth to her son, Archie. Tina Fey had left Saturday Night Live two years ago to star in her NBC show, "30 Rock", but Fey has been a regular fill-in, most recently portraying Alaska governor Sarah Palin.

Abby Elliott has ties to SNL through father, Chris Elliott

Abby Elliott has been an actress since 2006, according to her profile at IMDB.com. Elliott starred as Kristin in TV's 'You've Reached the Elliotts'. More recently, Elliott lent her voice to FOX's series 'King of the Hill' as Hipster Girl in two episodes this year.

Abby Elliott's father, Chris Elliott, also appeared on Saturday Night Live in the mid-90s. Chris Elliott has appeared in several movies and television roles, including the role as The Gambler in the 1996 movie 'Kingpin' and won four primetime Emmys. Unfortunately, my most vivid memory of Chris Elliott is the ad campaign he did with Doritos in the 1990s.

Groundlings Comedy Troupe gives Michaela Watkins her start in comedy

Michaela Watkins' start in acting came in 1998 when she played Molly in the movie 'Inconceivable'. Since then, Michaela Watkins has had bit parts in several television series. She appeared in the series 'Charmed' in 2001 and 'Without a Trace' in 2003.

Watkins was a member of the Groundlings comedy troupe, which touts such alumni as Will Ferrell, Kathy Griffin, Adam Carolla, Phil Hartman, Chris Kattan, Jon Lovitz, and Conan O'Brien.

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