Lorne Michaels gives Saturday Night Live Anniversary Gift. As the show entered its 50th season, the creator of the comedy show gave him the gift of continuing his involvement. In 2020, Michaels planted the seeds for his exit from the show after this milestone, but he has since made the decision to continue working until the end, whenever that is possible.
“It's more about staying on track than anything else, and obviously I really love that,” Michaels said. Hollywood Reporter. “And every year, the number of people I rely on for other things increases, but ultimately, you really need someone to say, ‘This is what we do.’ So, I don’t really have an answer; I just know that this is kind of what I do and as long as I can keep doing it, I’ll keep doing it. There’s no immediate plan.”
Michaels innovated SNL In 1975, he has served as showrunner and executive producer on more than 800 episodes over the past five decades. The 50th season premieres on September 28 with host Jean Smart and musical guest Jelly Roll. Coldplay, Steve Nicks, Billie Eilish and Chappelle Rowan will host the first five shows, with Nate Bargatz, Ariana Grande, Michael Keaton and John Mulaney hosting.
In the same interview with The Hollywood Reporter, SNL Weekend Update hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che discussed the internal conversation about Michaels' eventual departure — or, in fact, the lack of conversation about it. “Nobody who works there thinks he's going to leave,” Jost said. “And all the people that are being talked about as potential successors, nobody wants him to go, nobody wants to follow him.”
“Nobody wants to face the fact that at some point they’re not going to be able to do it… Honestly, I don’t think one person could do it again,” Chee added. “I think there’s going to be a whole panel. The show is in his image. I think people will appreciate when he’s no longer around how much he’s done for comedy. Any other show loses a star like Will Ferrell, and the show isn’t the same. SNL lost probably 30 of the biggest comedy stars of all time, and he’s still relevant.”
Former Weekend Update host Seth Meyers expressed a similar sentiment when asked about his vision for who might replace Michaels. “I think that’s a false narrative that Lorne is going anywhere,” the late-night host told Mike Birbiglia. Working on solving this problem “I think it made sense for Lauren, who has a sense of drama, to say, ‘I think I’ll be done at 50.’ Yes. But now, Lauren has nothing else he wants to do.”
A special three-hour screening to celebrate five decades. SNL The premiere will be on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
