‘SNL’ Creator Lorne Michaels Prodded For Intel On His Ultimate Replacement: “It Could Easily Be Tina Fey”

Lorne Michaels has expressed his full fey-th in a potential Saturday Night Live successor.

The famed showrunner of the iconic NBC sketch comedy show spoke to Entertainment Tonight at Monday night’s (Jan. 15) Emmy Awards, and was asked about who could take his place if he ever were to leave his post, per The Daily Beast.

“Of course I’ve thought about it,” he shared. “We’re doing the 50th anniversary show in February of ’25. So I will definitely be there for that, and will be there until that. And some time before that, we’ll figure out what we’re gonna do.”

When further prodded about the prospect of SNL alum and former head writer Tina Fey stepping into his shoes, he replied, “It could easily be Tina Fey.”

“You know, there are a lot of people who are there now who are also, you know,” he added.

With respect to Fey, he gushed that she’s “brilliant and great at everything.”

“She’s a very important person in my life,” he said.

As noted by ET co-host Nischelle Turner, there has been much talk of Fey as Michaels’ successor. A source claimed to the New York Post in July that Fey was “being courted” to take over Michaels’ position when he retires. However, Michaels, who is 79, has yet to announce when he officially plans to retire.

In 2021, he also told CBS News that he was “committed to doing this show until its 50th anniversary,” adding that he had “a feeling that’d be a really good time to leave.”

According to People, Fey appeared on The Today Show last week, where she refused to confirm rumors that she could be Michaels’ eventual replacement. She said at the time, “Y’all better pass. Stop. No ma’am.”

She also teased that Michaels is “not going to retire,” adding, “He has an elixir and he will live forever.”

Fey recently recreated SNL‘s Weekend Update segment with Amy Poehler at Monday night’s Emmys, ultimately presenting Elton John with the award for Variety Special (Live), which earned him EGOT status.