Courtesy of NBC.
Saturday Night Live's highly anticipated 50th season is quickly approaching now with lots of celebrations around the show beginning to kick off. Among them are next year's 50th anniversary celebration at Radio City Music Hall, the SNL biopic Saturday Night opening in theaters next month, & just this week we learned that a new book surrounding the iconic sketch series executive producer & creator Lorne Michaels will be released next year.
One of the major looming questions surrounding this celebratory season was who would replace Michaels when he would retire from the show following the 50th season? He said years ago in a 2020 interview with Willie Giest on Sunday Today that, "I’m not sure that I’ll see it through, but my plan is to be here for the 50th. The 40th was great. I like them 10 years apart. And we really did the 25th and waited 15 years for that one. But I don’t have those 15 years. So I think it’ll be the 50th, and then by that point, I really deserve to uh wander off.”
Many of the names that have been thrown in the hat as a successor were notably Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, Colin Jost, Michael Che & even John Mulaney. But today, ahead of next Saturday's 50th season premiere, Michaels along with his Weekend Update anchors Jost & Che set the record straight on SNL's future past season 50.
What Lorne Michaels is saying about his "Saturday Night Live" retirement.
When asked about his original 2020 statement about leaving by SNL's 50th season, he cleared the air on his previous retirement plans that he had set forth and had been referenced for many years.
Lorne said to The Hollywood Reporter when responding to what changed & said, "I think the times, and also there are not many network shows left, and this one has taken on [an importance]. It’s more about keeping it on course than anything else, and, obviously, I really love it."
He continues, "And every year there are more and more people that I rely on for other things, but, in the end, you really need someone to say, “This is what we’re doing.” 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."
What Colin Jost & Michael Che are also saying about Lorne Michaels' "SNL" retirement.
Jost & Che then followed up in this group interview chiming in on future show successors. "And all the people that are being talked about as possible successors, no one wants him to leave and no one wants to have to follow him," said Colin Jost.
Michael Che added, "Honestly, I don’t think it could ever be done by one person again. I think it will be a full committee. The show is in his image. I think people will appreciate when it’s not around anymore how much he actually has done for comedy. Any other show loses a star like Will Ferrell, and the show is not the same. SNL has lost maybe 30 of the biggest comedy stars of all time, and it’s still on and relevant."
It's assuring to know that the heart & soul behind one of the world's most prestigious comedy institutions is going to be with us for longer than anyone originally expected.
Saturday Night Live returns September 28th for its 50th season premiere on NBC with host Jean Smart & musical guest Jelly Roll!
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