shake-ups

Jay Pharoah Will Play Obama on SNL This Season

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 05: Actor Jay Pharoah attends The Cinema Society & Brooks Brothers with Grey Goose screening of
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 05: Actor Jay Pharoah attends The Cinema Society & Brooks Brothers with Grey Goose screening of “Lola Versus” at the SVA Theatre on June 5, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic) Photo: Charles Eshelman/2012 Charles Eshelman

Jay Pharoah just got a big promotion. Lorne Michaels tells the New York Times that he thought “it might be time to shake it up” and have Pharoah replace Fred Armisen as Saturday Night Live’s resident President Obama. (He says Armisen is still the show’s “backbone” and will have plenty to do.) Michaels has also decided on Taran Killam to play Paul Ryan, so with Jason Sudeikis officially sticking around through the election, both presidential tickets appear to be squared away in impression-land.

Jay Pharoah Will Play Obama on SNL This Season