'Scream Queens’ Creator Ryan Murphy Praises ‘SNL’ Star Cecily Strong's Performance In Season 2 Premiere Of FOX Series

Fans are going to meet a number of new faces in Season 2 of “Scream Queens,” but it seems that series creator Ryan Murphy is extra excited for the viewers to get to know Cecily Strong’s character in the new installment.

Deadline reported last month that Strong will guest star as a patient in the hospital-set sophomore run of the FOX series. During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Murphy praised the comedian’s performance in the Season 2 premiere of show.

“Cecily Strong from ‘Saturday Night Live’ … is f—ing brilliant in our first episode,” Murphy told the news outlet, noting that casting great comedic actors like her is part of their plan to widen the audience of the comedy-horror series.

“We all love [‘Scream Queens’], and the viewership was very young. It was huge on Hulu and the DVR, so [FOX CEO] Dana [Walden] and I felt like, ‘OK, we have our base — now what do you do to broaden it?" said Murphy, who explained that John Stamos' and Taylor Lautner’s addition to the cast would hopefully bring more audiences for the show.

“The casting of John Stamos, an old friend of mine, and Taylor Lautner, who brings his own audience, are both huge, too, because now it's more than just women [in the cast],” he said. “Before the show did seem very young, but now I hope there's something for everybody.”

Stamos and Lautner both play medical doctors in the new installment. Stamos portrays Dr. Brock Holt, the recipient of the world's first complete hand transplant, while Lautner plays Dr. Cassidy Cascade, an MD with a strange medical condition who forms a bond with returning character Chanel #3 (Billie Lourd/Sadie Swenson).

In addition to Strong, Stamos and Lautner, other new actors joining the show for Season 2 are James Earl (Candy Striper), Colton Haynes, Laura Bell Bundy and Jerry O'Connell.

In addition to Lourd, other returning original cast members are Jamie Lee Curtis (Cathy Munsch), Emma Roberts (Chanel), Lea Michele (Hester), Abigail Breslin (Chanel #5/Libby Putney), Keke Palmer (Zayday), Glen Powell (Chad Radwell) and Niecy Nash (Denise Hemphill).

During the show's San Diego Comic-Con panel last month, co-creator Ian Brennan claimed (via Variety) that Season 2 is "bloodier and funnier" than the series' freshman run. "I feel like we're leaning into the creepiness a little more and the comedy a little more," he said at the time.

“Scream Queens” Season 2 premieres on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. on FOX.