Taran Killam, Jay Pharaoh Land Showtime Series After 'SNL' Gives Them The Boot

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com)—   Neither Taran Killam or Jay Pharaoh will be on the unemployment line long.

After "Saturday Night Live" shocked the TV world earlier this week by announcing neither star would be returning this season, both Killam and Pharaoh -- arguably two of the most versatile and funny performers on "SNL," have both landed series deals with Showtime.

The deals were announced Thursday at the Television Critic's Association gathering in Beverly Hills.

Reporters quoted Showtime executives as saying they had been courting both Pharaoh (a brilliant imitation of President Obama and Ben Carson to name two) and Killam (whose imitations/characters have run the gamut from Andy Cohen to Ted Cruz to Michael Cera to 1860's critic Jebidiah Atkinson) for some time.  The Showtime execs said they were willing to work with NBC around the schedules of both actors but once they became available pounced on signing both for high-profile projects they were developing.

The fact NBC cut ties with Pharaoh and Killam shocked many as both were still under contract for the following season. Both joined "SNL" in 2010.

According to Variety, Pharaoh will star in "White Famous" -- a half-hour comedy loosely based on Jamie Foxx and his rise to stardom.

Killam will star in "Mating," a half-hour comedy anthology from Jason Katims, perhaps best known as head writer on "Friday Night Lights." Killam will play a man recently-divorced who has to step back into the world of dating. In real life, Killam is married to Colbie Smulders of "How I Met Your Mother" fame.

Rolling Stone recently ranked the top 141 "SNL" players of all time placing Pharaoh #55 and Killam #41.