Leon Worden, SCV News

Cecily Strong, a 2006 graduate of California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, has been added to the regular cast of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” producers announced Monday.

Strong, who hails from Oak Park, Ill., graduated from CalArts with a bachelor of fine arts degree in theater before returning to Chicago where she was a member of the Second City National Touring Company.

She debuted on “SNL” in September and apparently made an impression, because the show offered her a contract as a regular cast member for its 38th season.

Joining her are two other Second City alums, Aidy Bryant and Tim Robinson. The three replace Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg, who have left the show.

On the CalArts blog, 24700, faculty member Freddie Sharmini notes that several graduates of the School of Theater have prominent TV roles, among them Tony Award nominee Condola Rashad (BFA ‘08), who recently starred in Lifetime’s remake of “Steel Magnolias”; Alison Brie (BFA ‘05), who appears in NBC’s “Community” and AMC’s “Mad Men”; Eliza Coupe (MFA ‘05) on ABC’s “Happy Endings”; Michael Cudlitz (BFA ‘90) – who appeared in HBO’s “Band of Brothers” – now on TNT’s “Southland”.

Also, Sharmini notes that Katey Sagal (’72) from “Married With Children” won a Golden Globe last year for her work in FX’s “Sons of Anarchy.”