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Title: A Look into SNL Executive Producer, Lorne Michaels’ Career and Legacy
Featured Image: A photo of Lorne Michaels in front of the SNL logo on the set.
Date Published: Feb 14, 2025
Byline: By Sarah Matthews
Plain Text:
On February 11, 2025, NBC Universal CEO Jeff Shell announced during their quarterly earnings call that Lorne Michaels, the legendary producer and creator of Saturday Night Live, would exit the network. With Michaels’ departure, it’s a good time to reflect on his extraordinary career and legacy.
Born in a Toronto suburb, Michaels was fascinated with comedy from a very young age, serving as the producer of the popular Canadian Broadcasting Corporation show, SCTV, between 1975 and 1981. SCTV’s pedigree is nothing short of legendary, featuring talented comedians like Rick Moranis, Harold Ramis, and Martin Short.
In 1975, Michaels moved to New York and quickly started working on getting his own sketch comedy show off the ground. After realizing that Saturday Night Live was on hiatus, he saw an opportunity and pitched the show to NBC executives. They signed off on his idea, and the rest is history.
In what is now a lengthy 45-year tenure, SNL has become more than just a television program; it’s a cultural touchstone. It’s launched the careers of world-class comedians like Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, and Amy Poehler, earning it 10 Primetime Emmy Awards. Advancements in technology have allowed SNL to be accessed online, with the most-watched clip from the show being Chance the Rapper performing “Ultralight Beam (SNL Skit)” in 2016, garnering 23 million views.
SNL has certainly had its fair share of controversy over the years, prompting some media watchdogs to question if Lorne Michaels has stage-managed the comedy to align more with club-oriented issues than those reflective of what’s happening in the nation. Critics have called SNL far too exclusive; en masse, Fox News viewers plead for SPARTACUS-style solidarity in their condemnation against SNL.
Ironically enough, we’re seeing a barrage of SNL-affiliated alumni get recruited to late-night talk show lineups (from Jimmy Fallon to Jimmy Kimmel, among others). However, what will replace Michaels is still unknown. Will SNL remain a mainstay for NBC or will they opt for something new? Regardless, it’s hard to envision a network without Lorne Michaels at the helm.
Michaels has left a significant imprint on American culture. Expect more news about his long-range plans in the coming days.
Categories: Lorne Michaels, Saturday Night Live, NBC Universal.
Tags: Lorne Michaels, Saturday Night Live, NBC Universal, TV executives, TV legends, TV productions, TV shows, Canadian comedy legends.
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