Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels responds to THOSE rumors he might retire... as show prepares to mark 50th anniversary
Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels has responded to the latest round of rumors that he might be considering retirement.
The 79-year-old was at the helm of the sketch show when it debuted in 1975 and has remained there ever since, except for a hiatus from 1980 to 1985.
Lorne rose to become one of the most powerful figures in TV comedy, earning a record 102 Emmy nods and winning 21.
He has also steered the show through choppier waters, such as the explosive controversy when an NBC executive who was friends with OJ Simpson fired Norm MacDonald for making fun of the ex-football player over his murder trial.
Now, as the show approaches its 50th anniversary, Lorne has given his take on the speculation that he will finally vacate his position, speaking to the New York Times.
Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels has responded to the latest round of rumors that he might be considering retirement; pictured last week at the Paley Honors in New York
'I’m going to do it as long as I feel I can do it,' he cryptically remarked in his new interview. 'But I rely on other people and always have.'
In his time at Saturday Night Live, he launched the careers of a wide variety of stars ranging from John Belushi and Bill Murray to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
Eddie Murphy, possibly the biggest name to emerge from the franchise, starred on the show from 1980 to 1984 during Lorne's hiatus.
Lorne remarked in his latest interview that '[n]o one can handle the fame' that arises from becoming one of the top stars of the comedy world.
'Generally, we’re more tolerant of it, but you know people are going to turn into **holes. Because it’s just part of that process, because no one grew up that way.'
He also confessed that he himself tends to 'only see the mistakes' in the immediate aftermath of an episode going on the air.
Last year, Lorne remarked that he would definitely remain with the program at least until the 50th anniversary special, which is earmarked for February 2025.
''We’re doing the 50th anniversary show in February of ’25, so I will definitely be there for that, and definitely be there until that, and sometime before that we’ll figure out what we’re gonna do,' he explained to Entertainment Tonight at the Emmys.
The 79-year-old was at the helm of the iconic sketch show when it debuted in 1975 and has remained there ever since, except for a hiatus from 1980 to 1985; pictured 1976
At Saturday Night Live, Lorne launched a wide variety of stars ranging from John Belushi and Bill Murray to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler; Bill pictured on the show in 1981
Lorne gas said that Tina Fey, his protégé and frequent collaborator, 'could easily' take over for him when he eventually retires; the pair are pictured in 2014
Lorne also addressed the rumors that Tina Fey, his protégé and frequent collaborator, could take over for him when he eventually retires.
'It could easily be Tina Fey, but you know, there are a lot of people who are there now who are also, you know [could be good],' said Lorne. 'Tina’s brilliant and great at everything. She’s a very important person in my life.'
Saturday Night Live will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a live three-hour special to be aired on a Sunday, two days after Valentine's Day next year.
The Sunday night broadcast, which was announced in May, will come at the end of what NBC described as a full 'celebratory weekend' of programming.
