Exciting news for those living in Los Angeles: Daheli Hall, the latest addition to the MADtv cast, is scheduled to perform a stand-up set at the Genghis Cohen Club tonight, September 26th. She will be joined by her friends and fellow comics, Lang Parker and Anna Lane, and throughout the evening, she intends to showcase some of the characters she'll be bringing to MAD in November. Those of you who are in the area won't want to miss this one! The Genghis Cohen is located at 740 North Fairfax Avenue (again, in Los Angeles), tickets will be $5.00 at the door, and the show begins at 7:30pm. If you happen to make it, be sure to write up a report for us!

Apparently, Johnny, Anjelah, and Dan are not the only new cast members for Season 13. According to a recent article from thefutoncritic.com, an African-American woman, Daheli Hall, has been added to the Season 13 cast. Daheli's list of credits is short yet impressive: she has worked as not only an actress but also a writer, director, and producer. Although the article does not say whether Daheli will be a regular cast member or featured player, her abilities in several entertainment arenas could well be great news for the already versatile "MADtv" cast.

The Futon Critic article also mentions four new characters that will be introduced this season. Since apparently no "MADtv" cast with an African-American woman is complete without an Oprah Winfrey impression, no one should be surprised to discover that Daheli will indeed fulfill that role (both literally and figuratively) for Season 13. New original characters include Anjelah's "Tammy, the Nail Lady"; Johnny's "Farhid, the Kite Salesman from the Middle East"; and Dan's "American Jerk."

To extend a metaphor, I will simply note that Season 13 is growing by leaps and bounds. Hop aboard as it springs into action!

UPDATE: We can now confirm that Daheli was signed as a series regular.