The show then added two new featured players as this season progressed: Rachel Dratch, a performer with The Second City in Chicago,[2] and Maya Rudolph of The Groundlings.
[3] In July 1999, when executive producer Lorne Michaels held auditions for the season, NBC introduced a new contract for first-year cast members, replacing the five- or six-year deals they had used in the past.
[4] This would be the final season for longtime cast members Tim Meadows,[5] Cheri Oteri,[6] and Colin Quinn.
Starting this season, Tina Fey is credited as the writing supervisor,[8] which means that she was promoted to the head writer position, making her the first woman in this role.
A Superstar film, based on the Mary Katherine Gallagher sketches, was released on October 8, 1999.