SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels has told fans of the long-running late-night comedy and variety program that he has no plans to retire, despite the fact that both he and the show are approaching their 50th birthdays.
In an interview with The New York Times, Michaels, who has directed the live sketch show for decades, acknowledged the recent changes it has undergone.
The pandemic and the Trump presidency, he added, were times when audiences were “really terrified,” and the show mirrored that sentiment.
Michaels stated that he is ‘happy’ of the work the program accomplished under the Trump administration, which includes the infamous’sketch’ of Kate McKinnon disguised as Hillary Clinton singing Hallelujah after the 2020 election.
Rob Schneider, a former cast member of Saturday Night Live, described the performance as the final nail in the coffin of the show.
“It’s done. It’s ended. Schneider stated that the cold open that highlighted Clinton’s startling 2016 loss would not return.
The omnipotent NBC executive did concede, though, that things are easier for the show when national politics are less tense and there is no pandemic.
SNL creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels (center) with SNL’s Bowen Yang (left) and former SNL actress Kate McKinnon (right) at the 2022 Emmys (right)
The depiction of Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump. SNL has gotten both praise and criticism for its extreme anti-Trump stance throughout the previous presidency. Michaels stated that it reflected a time when people were “really terrified.”
It is much simpler when everything in politics is normal and the two parties simply dislike each other. Over the course of the past four years, we endured incredibly terrifying situations. He responded, ‘Hopefully, we’re emerging from it, and it’s just the same old terrifying things like a depression or war.
This year, Michaels is also losing four of the show’s core players in addition to four lesser-known acts, marking one of the show’s most significant departures in years.
At the conclusion of season 47, Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, and Kyle Mooney announced their exits. But also departing this season are Melissa Villaseor, Alex Moffat, Aristotle Athari, and Chris Redd, who announced his departure on Monday, two weeks prior to the commencement of the 48th season.
Kate McKinnon, one of the program’s breakout stars of the past decade, announced her departure from the show before to the end of the previous season.
Pete Davidson, another star of the show who has become a pop-culture celebrity, announced his departure from the series after several years of dwindling appearances.
Michaels responded to the significant loss of cast members by stating, “This is the year of reinvention.” And change is energizing.
He also mentioned that COVID-19 delayed the exit plans of a number of cast members this year, which was one of the reasons for their departure.
“The pandemic had put us in a position in which no one could leave since there were no jobs.” Likewise, if I don’t add new individuals every year, the show ceases to be the show. There must be fresh individuals,’ he told the Times.
Michaels says he views a big number of simultaneous exits as an opportunity to change the show’s dynamic, adding that he wants it to be a show that people choose to watch live on Saturday evenings.
“I want there to be a reason to watch it live because you have no idea what we’re going to do.” ‘Something significant occurred in the news, and you want to see how we handle it, and you know the individuals you want to see handle it,’ he said.
Michaels, whose name has been synonymous with the program over the years, states that he has no intention of leaving.
Michaels told the Times, “I have no plans to retire,” despite the fact that there are still a few years before SNL turns 50. I am not a person who enjoys celebrations. Even the 40th [anniversary] show was only bearable because I knew the credits would roll and we’d be off the air at a certain time.
“The 50th will be a major occasion. We will bring back everyone from all 50 years, including hosts and other personnel. It will be a really emotional and powerful event.
Aidy Bryant (left) and Kyle Mooney (right) also departed the cast at the conclusion of the 47th season.
Rob Schneider, a former cast member of Saturday Night Live, has been a prominent critic of the show’s political leaning in recent years. He argues that it is not entertaining to watch comedians make fun of politicians when the audience is aware that hatred underlies the impressions.