Similar to its rival show, "Saturday Night Live", this season saw a considerable shake-up in the cast and much hiring and promotion to fill the void. Longtime cast member and last member of the original 1995-1996 cast, Debra Wilson, left the show, leaving this cast as the first with no one from the first season. Ike Barinholtz, Josh Meyers, Ron Pederson, and Paul Vogt were upgraded to repertory status, while Simon Helberg was let go. New cast members hired this season include: Daniele Gaither, a member of The Groundlings who was trained by cast member Michael McDonald, a former cast member of the short-lived WB sketch show "Hype", and an extra on an early episode of "MADtv" in a blaxploitation parody about Bob Dole; Nicole Parker (who also appeared in a past episode of "MADtv" as an extra. Parker appeared in the music video parody of The Calling's "Wherever You Will Go" as the woman getting tattoos on her arm of The Calling's, Creed's, Pearl Jam's, and Ray Charles' names); Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele (who were originally hired because FOX was on the fence about whether to hire them both or pick one over the other. After seeing their comedic chemistry and ability to generate hilarious celebrity impressions and original characters, FOX decided to keep Key and Peele on the show); Melissa Paull, and Gillian Vigman.