‘Saturday Night Live’ adds 6 new cast members

“Saturday Night Live” has added six new cast members just in time for its 39th season.

The fresh faces arrive following the departure of veteran cast members Jason Sudeikis, Bill Hader and Fred Armisen, and just a year after the exits of Andy Samberg and Kristen Wiig.

Noël Wells, the only female among the new players, is a skilled impressionist with a popular YouTube channel.

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Michael Patrick O’Brien, host of the Web series “7 Minutes in Heaven” and a writer for “SNL” since 2009, has been upped to featured player.

Beck Bennett, best known to TV viewers as the straight man in AT&T’s “It’s not complicated” campaign, and Kyle Mooney, both members of the sketch group Good Neighbor, will also be joining the show.

Also among the “SNL” freshman class is John Milhiser, a performer with the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles who’s appeared in videos for Above Average, Lorne Michaels’ online video company.

The last addition to the cast is Brooks Wheelan, a stand-up comedian from Los Angeles recently named one of Comedy Central’s “10 Comics to Watch.”

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Other changes in the season ahead include the addition of Cecily Strong to “Weekend Update,” whose long-time anchor Seth Meyers will be leaving the show in December to replace Jimmy Fallon at NBC’s “Late Night.”

The newbies will get their moment to shine Sept. 28, when Tina Fey hosts the show’s season premiere along with musical guest Arcade Fire.

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Twitter: @MeredithBlake