Actress and comedienne Michaela Watkins joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in November 2008. Watkins was guest-starring as Lucy on The New Adventures of Old Christine, the show starring former SNL castmember Julia Louis-Dreyfus, when the SNL announcement was made.Defamer: Estrogen Deficient SNL Adds Two More Women (November 12, 2008)
SNL Women 2008
Before Michaela Watkins and Abby Elliott joined the cast, there were only two regular female cast members, Kristen Wiig and Casey Wilson. Abby Elliott is the daughter of comedian Chris Elliott, who appeared on SNL for one season during the mid-1990s.
Amy Poehler's last appearance on SNL was on October 18, 2008, when she manned the "Weekend Update" anchor desk and rapped alongside Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Poehler gave birth to a baby boy, Archie Arnett, soon after and announced that she will not return to the show once her maternity leave ends.Houston Chronicle: Amy Poehler Gives Birth (October 28, 2008)
Saturday Night Live enjoyed a ratings serge in 2008 thanks to several appearances by 30 Rock creator and former SNL head writer Tina Fey as Palin.EOnline: Alive From New York, Fey's Palin Paces SNL (October 6, 2008)