'SNL' Vet Darrell Hammond to Replace Don Pardo as Show's Announcer

Darrell Hammond is returning to Saturday Night Live. The former SNL castmember will replace the late Don Pardo as announcer, the New York Times reported on Thursday morning.

Before leaving SNL in 2009, Hammond spent 14 seasons as a part of the show's cast, more than any other performer. This won't be the first time Hammond serves as SNL's announcer — as a master impressionist, Hammond would fill in for Pardo on occasions, stealthily mimicking the announcer's voice.

"There were a lot of sweet ideas about carrying on with Don somehow," SNL creator Lorne Michaels told the New York Times. "Because everyone has a Pardo impression. But he had the greatest run and he's a completely beloved figure. So I thought: Don't turn this into something else. That period ended."

The Times reports that Hammond will announce as himself, not in a Pardo impression.

"I'm really happy about it," Michaels said. "I think it will be good to have Darrell doing his own separate thing."

I'm curious to see if Hammond will slip into sketches now that he's back working for SNL. With a likely Hillary Clinton presidential run coming up, it's going to be very hard for Michaels (a man who loves his SNL veterans) to resist having Hammond reprise his Bill Clinton impression.

SNL kicks off its 40th season on Sept. 27 with Chris Pratt hosting.