Lorne Michaels

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Lorne Michaels (born Lorne David Lipowitz; November 17, 1944) is a Canadian and American television and film producer, comedian, screenwriter and director. He created and produced Saturday Night Live (1975–1980, since 1985) and produced the Late Night series (since 1993), The Kids in the Hall (from 1989 to 1995), and The Tonight Show (since 2014).[1][2][3][4]

He has received 24 Primetime Emmy Awards from 112 nominations, holding the record as the most nominated individual in the award show's history.[5][6]

Early life

Lorne David Lipowitz was born to a Jewish family in Toronto, Ontario, on November 17, 1944, to Florence (Template:Nee) (1915–2001) and Abraham Lipowitz (1908–1959), who worked as a furrier.[7][8][9]

Several sources incorrectly state that he was born on a kibbutz in the then-British mandate of Palestine,[10][11][12][13] and that his Jewish family immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, when he was an infant.[14]

Michaels and his two younger siblings were raised in Toronto; he graduated from Forest Hill Collegiate Institute before attending University College at the University of Toronto, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1966.[15][16][17]

Career

Early career

Michaels began his career as a writer and broadcaster for CBC Radio, working with partner Hart Pomerantz.[18] He and Pomerantz moved to Los Angeles from Toronto in 1968 to work as writers for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show. They returned to Canada to star in The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour, a series of comedy specials that ran on CBC in the early 1970s.[19][20]

Michaels returned to the United States in 1973 to write for The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour. This brought him to the attention of Lily Tomlin who hired him to produce a series of specials, the first of which won an Emmy.[21] Michaels credits his work with Tomlin for giving him the credibility needed for NBC to hire him to create Saturday Night Live.[22]

Saturday Night Live

In 1975, Michaels created (with fellow NBC employee Dick Ebersol and president of the network Herb Schlosser) the television show NBC's Saturday Night, which in 1977 changed its name to Saturday Night Live (initially there was a name conflict with an ABC show titled Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell, which debuted September 20, 1975, and was cancelled on January 17, 1976). The show, which is performed live in front of a studio audience, immediately established a reputation for being cutting-edge and unpredictable. It became a vehicle for launching the careers of some of the most successful comedians in the United States.

Originally the producer of the show, Michaels was also a writer and later became executive producer. He occasionally appears on-screen as well, where he is known for his deadpan humor. Throughout the show's history, SNL has been nominated for more than 156 Emmy Awards and has won 36. It has consistently been one of the highest-rated late-night television programs. Michaels has been with SNL for all seasons except for his hiatus in the early 1980s (seasons 6–10).

File:Lorne Michaels (1988 FOX press photo).jpg
Michaels in 1988

Michaels appeared in the show during the first season, where he offered The Beatles US $3000 to reunite on the show.[23] He later increased his offer to US $3200, but the money was never claimed. According to an interview with John Lennon in Playboy magazine,[24] Lennon and Paul McCartney were in New York City that night and happened to see the program. They contemplated going onto the show as a joke but decided against it though, as it was too late to get there in time, and they were both tired. This near-reunion was the basis for the television movie Two of Us. On the episode airing November 20, 1976, musical guest George Harrison appeared and attempted to collect the money, but Michaels told him the offer was conditional on all four members of the group showing up rather than just any Beatle.[25]

Other work

During the 1978–1979 season of SNL, Michaels was offered a deal to produce nine features from Paramount, but he turned it down to take a three-picture deal from Warner Bros. The Warner Bros. deal didn't net any produced movies.Template:Sfn In the early 80s, he subsequently had a deal to produce movies for MGM and was developing a Father Guido Sarducci movie written by Don Novello, a spoof of 1984 called 1985 that was set in the future and written by Al Franken, Tom Davis, and Jim Downey, and an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice Michaels himself was co-writing with friend John Head.[26][27] The only movie to be produced from Michaels's MGM deal was Nothing Lasts Forever, a black-and-white surreal sci-fi comedy written and directed by longtime resident SNL filmmaker Tom Schiller. The movie featured appearances from Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, but the studio opted to never release it.[28]

In 1979, Michaels founded the production company Broadway Video, which has produced SNL since 1981 as well as other shows such as Canadian sketch-comedy The Kids in the Hall which began airing in 1988 on CBC in Canada, debuting in the U.S. market in 1989 on cable television network HBO until moving to CBS in 1993.

Whilst on his SNL hiatus, Michaels created another sketch show titled The New Show, which debuted on Friday nights in prime time on NBC in January 1984. The show failed to garner the same enthusiasm as SNL and was cancelled after 9 episodes.

File:Lorne Michaels at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.JPG
Michaels at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.

In the 1980s, Michaels appeared in an HBO mockumentary titled The Canadian Conspiracy about the supposed subversion of the United States by Canadian-born media personalities, with Lorne Greene as the leader of the conspiracy. Michaels was identified as the anointed successor to Greene.

Michaels is also the executive producer of the NBC show Late Night, and was the executive producer of 30 Rock and Up All Night during their runs.

On April 3, 2013, it was announced that Michaels would be taking over as the executive producer for The Tonight Show. Consequently, The Tonight Show moved to New York in early 2014 as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Personal life

Michaels has three children, Henry, Eddie, and Sophie[29] and has been married three times.[30] During the early 1960s, he began a relationship with Rosie Shuster, daughter of his comedy mentor Frank Shuster of the Wayne and Shuster comedy team, who later worked with him on Saturday Night Live as a writer.[19] Michaels and Shuster were married in 1967[31][32] and divorced in 1980.[33] He married model Susan Forristal in 1981, a marriage that ended in divorce in 1987. Michaels is married to Alice Barry, his former assistant. The pair wed in 1991.[30]

Michaels became an American citizen in 1987[30] and was inducted into the Order of Canada in 2002.[34]

In January 2025, Michaels donated archival materials from throughout his career to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin.[35] The Lorne Michaels Collection is scheduled to become available for research in January 2026.[36]

Credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1979 Mr. Mike's Mondo Video Executive producer
1980 Gilda Live Producer, writer
1984 Nothing Lasts Forever Producer
1986 ¡Three Amigos! Producer, writer
1992 Wayne's World Producer
1993 Coneheads
Wayne's World 2
1994 Lassie
1995 Tommy Boy
Stuart Saves His Family
1996 Black Sheep
Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy
1998 A Night at the Roxbury
1999 Superstar
Man on the Moon Cameo as himself
2000 The Ladies Man Producer
2001 Enigma
2004 Mean Girls
2007 Hot Rod
2008 Baby Mama
2010 MacGruber
2012 The Guilt Trip
2015 Staten Island Summer
2016 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Brother Nature
Masterminds
2017 Sandy Wexler Cameo as himself
2024 Mean Girls Producer [37]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1968 Barris and Company Writer Variety show, CBC Television
The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show Variety sketch series, NBC
1969 Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
The Jim Nabors Hour Variety sketch series, CBS
1970–1971 The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour Costar, writer, producer
1973 The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour Writer Summer variety sketch series, ABC
Lily Producer, writer Comedy variety special, CBS
The Perry Como Winter Show Writer Variety comedy special, NBC
1974 Flip Wilson... Of Course Producer, writer Comedy variety special, NBC
The Hollywood Palladium Writer Comedy variety special, CBS
1975 Lily Producer, writer
The Lily Tomlin Special
1975–1980;
since 1985 		Saturday Night Live Executive producer, creator Variety sketch series, NBC
1978 All You Need Is Cash: The Rutles Executive producer Television movie
1982 The Concert in Central Park Concert special, HBO
1984 The New Show Producer Variety sketch series, NBC
1988–1990 Sunday Night Executive producer Late night television, NBC
1988 40th Primetime Emmy Awards Awards ceremony, FOX
1988–1995;
2022 		The Kids in the Hall Variety sketch series, CBC/Amazon Prime Video
1991 Lookwell Producer Television Movie, NBC
1993–2009 Late Night with Conan O'Brien Executive producer Variety talk series, NBC
1993–1994 The Vacant Lot Variety sketch series, CBC/Comedy Central
1995 Frosty Returns Television Special, CBS
2002 The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch Television film
The Colin Quinn Show Variety talk series, NBC
2006 Sons and Daughters Producer Television series, ABC
2006–2013 30 Rock Executive producer Television series, NBC
2009–2014 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Variety talk series, NBC
2011–2018 Portlandia Variety sketch series, IFC
2011–2013 Up All Night Television series, NBC
2013–2015 The Awesomes Television series, Hulu
Since 2014 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Variety talk series, NBC
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014 Howard Stern Birthday Bash Himself Television special
2014–2015 Mulaney Executive producer Television series, Fox
2014 The Maya Rudolph Show Variety talk series, IFC
2015–2017 Man Seeking Woman Variety sketch series, FX
2015–2022 Documentary Now! Variety sketch series, IFC
2015 Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special Executive producer, himself Television special, NBC
Adele Live in New York City Executive producer
2016 Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Guest – Himself Episode: "Everybody Likes to See the Monkeys", Netflix
Maya & Marty Executive producer Variety sketch series, NBC
2017–2018 Detroiters Television series, Comedy Central
2017 The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special Television special, NBC
2018–2021 A.P. Bio Television series, NBC/Peacock
2018 70th Primetime Emmy Awards Awards ceremony, NBC
Love, Gilda Himself Documentary, HBO
Norm Macdonald Has a Show Guest – Himself Episode: "Lorne Michaels", Netflix
2019–2021 Shrill Executive producer Television series, Hulu
2019–2023 Miracle Workers Television series, TBS
The Other Two Television series, Comedy Central/HBO Max
2019–2022 Los Espookys Television series, HBO
2020 Mark Twain Prize: Dave Chappelle Himself Awards ceremony, PBS
Mapleworth Murders[38] Executive producer Television series, Quibi
2021–2022 Kenan Television series, NBC
Miley's New Year's Eve Party Television special, NBC/Peacock
That Damn Michael Che Television series, HBO Max
2021–2023 Schmigadoon! Television series, Apple TV+
2021 Saturday Morning All Star Hits! Television series, Netflix
MacGruber Television series, Peacock
2023 Bupkis
2025 Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music Executive producer, himself Television special, Peacock
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert Executive producer
Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special Executive producer, himself Television special, NBC

Stage

Year Title Role Theatre Notes
1979 Gilda Radner: Live From New York Producer, director, and writer Winter Garden Theatre
1998 Colin Quinn -- An Irish Wake Producer Helen Hayes Theatre Straight Play
2018 Mean Girls August Wilson Theatre Broadway and North American tour
2022 Leopoldstadt Longacre Theatre Tony Award for Best Play[39]

In popular culture

In The Kids in the Hall movie Brain Candy, the character of Don Roritor was based heavily on actor Mark McKinney’s impersonation of Lorne Michaels.[40]

The character Dr. Evil, the antagonist of Austin Powers in three films, has mannerisms and a speaking style based on Lorne Michaels. Dr. Evil was created and portrayed by SNL alumnus Mike Myers, who was at least partially influenced by fellow SNL performer Dana Carvey's impression of Michaels.[41]

In a 2008 interview with Playboy, as well in various other interviews, Tina Fey admitted that Alec Baldwin's character Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock is inspired by Michaels. In a different interview, on NPR's radio show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Baldwin stated that some of his inspiration for Donaghy was drawn from Michaels.[42]

Gabriel LaBelle plays Michaels in the 2024 film Saturday Night, a dramatization of behind-the-scenes events leading up to the first episode of Saturday Night Live.[43]

Honors

File:Lorne Michaels star on Walk of Fame.jpg
Michaels's star on Canada's Walk of Fame.

In 1999, Michaels was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame[44] and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[33]

Also in 1999, Michaels received an honorary degree from Ryerson University.[45]

In 2003, he received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.[46]

In 2004, he was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor by the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Speaking at the awards ceremony, original Saturday Night Live cast member Dan Aykroyd described the show as "the primary satirical voice of the country".[47]

Michaels received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in 2006, Canada's highest honor in the performing arts.[18]

In 2008, Michaels was awarded the Webby for Film & Video Lifetime Achievement. With the allotted five words allowed to each recipient, his acceptance speech was "Five words is not enough".[48]

In 2012, Michaels was awarded a rare Personal Peabody Award. He accepted at a ceremony in New York City at the Waldorf Astoria New York hotel.[49]

In December 2021, Michaels was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors, along with Justino Diaz, Berry Gordy, Bette Midler, and Joni Mitchell.[50]

In 2022, Michaels received a Peabody Award for his work as an executive producer of the Spanish-language comedy series Los Espookys. He was nominated for a second Peabody Award for his work producing Documentary Now!.[51]

Ribbon Description Notes
File:CAN Order of Canada Companion ribbon.svg Companion of the Order of Canada (C.C.)
  • Awarded on: May 11, 2018;
  • This is a promotion within the order[52]
File:CAN Order of Canada Member ribbon.svg Member of the Order of Canada (C.M.)
  • Awarded on: May 1, 2002
  • Invested on: February 21, 2003[52]
File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for Canada
  • 2002: As a member of the Order of Canada, he was also awarded with The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.[53]
File:QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for Canada
  • 2012: As a member of the Order of Canada, he was also awarded with The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.[54]
File:Presidential Medal of Freedom (ribbon).svg Presidential Medal of Freedom

References

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Bibliography

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External links

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