Saturday Night Live: Popular pick to replace Lorne Michaels doesn’t want the job
By Matt Moore
Saturday Night Live boss Lorne Michaels has his eyes on the exit. As far as who will replace the SNL creator, that’s still unknown. But now one popular pick for the job revealed he wants no part of it.
Michaels, who began Saturday Night Live in 1975, suggested that he could walk away from Studio 8H following the 50th anniversary. Naturally, the question of his succession followed. Many believed that Seth Meyers had the resume to take the gig.
Speaking with Deadline, Meyers revealed that he has no interest in running Saturday Night Live but was honored that his name entered the discussion. “I’m very flattered. First of all, you have to remember, I still can’t believe I was on SNL and then I can’t believe that I got to be head writer and I got to host ‘Weekend Update.’
“To hear my name in this conversation is another thing that’s so lovely and flattering. With that said, it is not a job for me. I really think everybody underestimates the idea that Lorne Michaels might just be irreplaceable.”
Meyers listed off his Saturday Night Live resume in the response, highlighting the reasons many believe he’s a natural fit to run the show. His experience as a head writer meant he worked with Michaels closer than anyone. Add in the “Weekend Update” tenure, and you have a pretty good pick for SNL executive producer.
Seth Meyers doesn’t need to leave Late Night for Saturday Night Live
But Meyers appears more than happy to continue hosting Late Night with Seth Meyers. It would be a massive change in lifestyle and schedule for Meyers to go from running a late-night show to operating everything that goes into Saturday Night Live.
Lorne Michaels will leave massive shoes to fill when he does decide to ride off into the sunset. Perhaps knowing what he’d be in for is another reason Seth Meyers doesn’t want the job. He’s seen the hours Michaels puts in and the decisions he has to make. The success of Late Night also means Meyers doesn’t necessarily need to look for a new gig.
When and if Michaels leaves SNL after the 50th anniversary in 2025, we’ll likely know the succession plan before then. Stay tuned.
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