Since 1975 Saturday Night Live (SNL) has been a stable on NBC.  The live show has countless sketches parodying both the politics and the culture of the USA.  The show is famous for it’s guest hosts with have included celebrities from the world of politics, music, sport and film.  To name but a few, the show has been hosted by people from Bette White to Al Gore to a 14 year old Jodie Foster.  However, what we all think of when we think of SNL is the amazing comedians the show has seen come and go, many of whom got their first TV exposure on the show.  These include comedic legends like Eddie Murphy, Tina Fay, Jane Curtin and Steve Martin.  Now Kate McKinnon will get her chance to shine on the iconic show, becoming the first openly gay comic to do so since season 11 when both Danitra Vance and Terry Sweeney were a part of the cast (Vance was not only the first lesbian cast member but also the first black female regular ).

Kate came to our TV screens, when she was still in her final year at Columbia, as part of LOGO’s The Big Gay Sketch Show.  She was hired for the successful comedy as part of the original cast and has been involved in all three seasons.  She plays a host of characters including an English boy desperate to obtain a vagina as well as doing a great impression of Barbara Walters.  McKinnon’s appeal comes from both her talent and her likability and to see her cast on SNL just shows how her ability to write and develop diverse characters has been spotted by the very best.

She also has a few careers on the go at once, comedian and actress are also joined by voice over artist on Kate’s résumé, she has done voice over work on both Robotomy and The Venture Brothers.

In 2009 Kate won a NewNowNext Award for “Best Rising Comic” and in the following year she was nominated for “emerging comic of New York” by the ECNYs having performed with the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York City since 2008.  Kate has also been involved with a successful webseries called Vag Magazine, which, as you might guess, is about a feminist publication.

According to Deadline seven comedians auditioned for the spot on SNL but Kate won out.  She will debut on April 7th 2012 in a show that will be hosted by none other than the gorgeous Sofia Vergara – way to go Kate!

So what do you think of this funny lady?  Álainn or Appallin’?