Newsmakers

newsmakers

‘SNL’ plans to add black female actor

NEW YORK

NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” plans to add one and possibly two black female performers to its cast as soon as January.

A representative for the show confirms reports that “SNL” is responding to complaints about its lack of diversity by having showcases to choose at least one black female cast member immediately.

The New York Times reports that a special audition for seven or eight finalists took place Monday on the “SNL” stage.

The show has seen two dozen candidates in recent weeks in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.

Executive producer Lorne Michaels tells the Times many of the performers “are really good.”

Criticism was spurred this fall by two of the show’s black male cast members, Jay Pharoah and Kenan Thompson.

Jack White, Karen Elson split finalized

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

A Nashville judge has finalized the divorce between Jack White and British model and singer Karen Elson.

Court records show the final divorce agreement was signed by a judge Nov. 26. The agreement names Elson as the primary residential parent for the couple’s two children, and White will get about 150 days with them.

White also retained rights to all his musical businesses, including The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, Dead Weather and his record label, Third Man Records. Karen Elson married White in 2005 in Nashville, but Elson filed for divorce last year.

Although the separation started off amicably, earlier this year Elson filed for a restraining order and accused White of threatening her, which White denied. A spokeswoman for White did not return email and telephone messages left Thursday.

Associated Press