SNL's Darrell Hammond to Play Col. Sanders in New KFC Ads

LOS ANGELES - "Saturday Night Live" alum and its current announcer Darrell Hammond has signed on to play Col. Harland Sanders in upcoming Kentucky Fried Chicken ads.

KFC said it was bringing back the Colonel, who died in 1980, as part of an effort help celebrate the company's 75th anniversary. A video appeared on YouTube Tuesday featuring Hammond portraying Sanders, giving "The State of Kentucky Fried Chicken Address."

Yum! Brands, which owns KFC, said it will begin airing the TV spots on Memorial Day, May 25. starring Hammond as the venerable Colonel. Yum! also owns Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

KFC also is premiering a video game based on Colonel Sanders' life called ColonelQuest.

Col. Sanders established the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in 1939 and went on to franchise his first restaurant in 1952. KFC went on to become one of the first fast food chains to expand internationally, opening restaurants in Canada and England, then Mexico and Jamaica in the mid-1960s. He sold the company in 1964 but retained ownership of its Canadian operations.

Sanders became a salaried goodwill ambassador for KFC up until the time of his death on Dec. 16, 1980.