Oct 18, 2013 11:00 AM EDT By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

"Saturday Night Live" is considered to be the epitome of late night entertainment and humor.

However, its viewers started noticing a trend that is no laughing matter and that's the lack of gender and racial diversity on the Emmy-award winning show.

SNL announced on Wednesday that Kerry Washington will make her debut as host on Nov. 2 drew some complicated reaction, the Times reports.

The news came two days after, TVGuide.com published an interview with SNL cast member Kenan Thompson where he addressed the lack of diversity on the show, specifically the fact that there are no black, female comedians on the show, and that there have only been four in the 38 years it has been on air.

Thompson essentially blamed the lack of ethnic and gender diversity on the show on a weak talent pool, saying that there is a lack of quality female black comedians, rather than blaming the show runner, Lorne Michaels or the series, which current only employs three comedians of color out of 16 cast members: Thompson, Jay Pharaoh and Iranian Nasim Pedrad.

"It's just a tough part of the business," he said to TVGuide.com. "Like in auditions, they just never find ones that are ready."

Thompson's response drew instant criticism from celebrities and fans alike.

Aisha Tyler, a co-host on "The Talk," went on Twitter and called the SNL cast member "dumb."

According to TVGuide.com, Pharaoh has spoken out about the series lack of diversity, telling theGrio.com that the show's executives "need to pay attention."

In its history the comedy series only had four black cast members: Yvonne Hudson (1980-81), Danitra Vance (1985-86), Ellen Cleghorne (1991-95), and Maya Rudolph (2000-07).

The Daily News added that the show's diversity problem is also reflected in the choice of "SNL" hosts.

According to TVLine.com, out of 90 episodes since season 35 there have just four hosts that were women of color: Gabourey Sidibe, Maya Rudolph, Jennifer Lopez and Sofia Vergara.

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