Chris Kelly becomes first openly gay head writer for ‘Saturday Night Live’

NBC confirms that comedy writers Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider have been promoted to head writers of Saturday Night Live‘s 42nd season.

Kelly and Schneider both joined the writing staff of SNL in 2011 and have been responsible for some of the shows most recent viral hits including “The Beygency,” the Emmy-nominated “(Do It On My) Twin Bed” and “Bar Talk” featuring Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton and the real life presidential nominee as bartender Val.

Kelly is the first openly gay head writer for SNL and Schneider is the first female head writer since 2008 when Tina Fey left the show to focus on her sitcom 30 Rock.

Kelly and Schneider’s promotion is the latest in a recent series of shake ups for the show. Most notably, cast member’s Jay Pharoah, Taran Killam and Jon Rudnitsky will not be returning for the new season.

New episodes of SNL premiere this fall on NBC.

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