Similar to its rival show,
Saturday Night Live, this season saw a considerable shake-up in the cast and much hiring and promotion to fill the void. Longtime cast member and last member of the original 1995–1996 cast, Debra Wilson, left the show, leaving this cast as the first with no one from the first season.
Ike Barinholtz,
Josh Meyers,
Ron Pederson, and
Paul Vogt were upgraded to repertory status, while Simon Helberg and Christina Moore were let go. New cast members hired this season include:
Daniele Gaither, a member of The
Groundlings who was trained by cast member
Michael McDonald, a former cast member of the short-lived WB sketch show
Hype, and an extra on an early episode of
MADtv in a blaxploitation parody about Bob Dole;
Nicole Parker (who also appeared in a past episode of
MADtv as an extra. Parker appeared in the music video parody of The Calling's "Wherever You Will Go" as the woman getting tattoos on her arm of The Calling's, Creed's, Pearl Jam's, and Ray Charles' names);
Keegan-Michael Key and
Jordan Peele (who were originally hired because FOX was on the fence about whether to hire them both or pick one over the other. After seeing their comedic chemistry and ability to generate hilarious celebrity impressions and original characters, FOX decided to keep Key and Peele on the show);
Melissa Paull, and
Gillian Vigman. Season nine is home to the show's 200th episode, featuring appearances from former cast members
Orlando Jones,
Nicole Sullivan,
Alex Borstein,
Will Sasso,
Artie Lange, and
Phil LaMarr. Other guests this season include
Jessica Alba,
Tommy Davidson,
Fred Willard,
Gregory Helms,
Trish Stratus,
Tony Hawk,
Jeff Probst,
Cedric the Entertainer,
Frankie Muniz,
Tom Bergeron, and
Jennifer Coolidge. This is the last season for
Mo Collins and Josh Meyers, and the only season for Melissa Paull and Gillian Vigman. == Opening montage ==