Comedienne Maya Rudolph is returning to the New York set of "Saturday Night Live" to play the wife of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., a source says.

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The anonymous source said Rudolph, who left the popular comedy TV series last November, is to play Michelle Obama during the final push to the general election, the New York Daily News reported Friday.

"SNL" Executive Producer Lorne Michaels had said before the start of the current season that he wanted Rudolph to return to play the wife of the Democratic U.S. presidential nominee.

The Daily News said Rudolph had previously agreed to play Michelle Obama during the series' season premiere, but the skit was removed after the Illinois senator canceled his appearance on the show.

The newspaper said Rudolph's return would mark the most recent appearance by a former "SNL" cast member on the NBC series. Tina Fey came back to play Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.