Ten Things to Know About Sasheer Zamata
Here's the inside scoop on late night's hottest new TV star.
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Live From New York … It’s Sasheer Zamata! - Saturday Night Live was publicly skewered for failing to include a Black woman cast member at the start of its 39th season. So expect new hire Sasheer Zamata, the Internet comedic sensation who makes her debut this Saturday, to inject her bold brand of intellectual, feminist humor into the legendary sketch show. One of the first things to know about Sasheer Zamata in our fact-finding mission is that she takes comedy very seriously. The Indianapolis native earned a degree in drama from the University of Virginia. (Photo: NBC)
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A Comedienne Reborn - Born Sasheer Moore, the comedienne changed her last name soon after completing college. Zamata means "double" in the Telugu language spoken in India. Her first name comes courtesy of an alien flower featured on an episode of Star Trek. (Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images for Comedy Central)
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Classic Comedy Pedigree - After moving to New York City, Sasheer began performing with the Upright Citizens Brigade. The famed improv group was also the comedic launchpad of former SNL cast members Tina Fey (also a University of Virginia alum), Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell. (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)
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Funny Scribe - Sasheer is not just an improv artist and comedian, she’s also a published writer whose articles and essays have been published in Jezebel, Vulture and the New York Times. The 27-year-old has also been a featured stand-up comedian at art festivals around the country. (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)
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A Familiar Face - Like most working artists Sasheer paid her career dues by working in television commercials. Her pretty face might look familiar to small screen audiences who’ve seen her in ads for Target, Verizon Wireless and Apple. (Photo: Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)
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