Lorne Michaels
Lorne Michaels CC (born Lorne David Lipowitz; November 17, 1944) is a Canadian-American producer, screenwriter, and comedian. He is best known for creating and producing Saturday Night Live (1975–1980, 1985–present) and producing the Late Night series (since 1993), The Kids in the Hall (from 1989 to 1995) and The Tonight Show (since 2014).[6][7][8][9]
Lorne Michaels | |
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Michaels at the 2021 Kennedy Center Honors | |
| Born | Lorne David Lipowitz November 17, 1944 |
| Citizenship |
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| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1968–present |
| Known for |
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| Spouses |
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| Children | 3 |
| Website | broadwayvideo |
He has received 21 Primetime Emmy Awards from 98 nominations, holding the record for being the most nominated individual in the award show's history.[10][11]
Early life
Lorne Michaels was born on November 17, 1944, to Florence (née Becker) and Henry Abraham Lipowitz. His place of birth is disputed; multiple sources have said he was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada,[12][13] while others state he was born on a kibbutz in the then British mandate of Palestine (now Israel)[1][2][3][4][5] and that his Jewish family immigrated to Toronto when he was an infant.[14]
Michaels and his two younger siblings were raised in Toronto; he attended Forest Hill Collegiate Institute. He graduated from University College, Toronto, where he majored in English, in 1966.[15][16]
Career
Early career
Michaels began his career as a writer and broadcaster for CBC Radio.[17] He moved to Los Angeles from Toronto in 1968 to work as a writer for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show. He starred with Hart Pomerantz in The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour, a series of comedy specials that ran on CBC in the early 1970s.[18]
Saturday Night Live
In 1975, Michaels created (with fellow NBC employee Dick Ebersol and president of the network Herb Schlosser) the TV 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. In December 1977, British singer-songwriter Elvis Costello appeared last minute on SNL after a cancellation by The Sex Pistols, within seconds of starting to play the agreed song Less than Zero, Costello stopped the band and launched into Radio Radio which is about what's wrong with corporate-controlled broadcasting.[19][20] Off camera an angry Michaels reportedly gave Costello the middle finger throughout the entire duration of the song.[20] The stunt got Costello banned from SNL for 12 years.[20]
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).
His daughter, Sophie, has appeared in episodes, one of which was during the show's 30th season hosted by Johnny Knoxville during the monologue when Lorne introduces Johnny Knoxville to his daughter and Sophie shocks Knoxville with a taser. She also appeared in a sketch about underage drinking when Zac Efron hosted the show.
Perhaps Michaels's best-known appearance occurred in the first season when he offered The Beatles $3,000 (a deliberately paltry sum) to reunite on the show.[21] He later increased his offer to $3,200, but the money was never claimed. According to an interview in Playboy magazine,[22] John Lennon and Paul McCartney happened to be in New York City that night and wanted to see the show. They very nearly went, but changed their minds as it was getting too late to get to the show on time, and they were both tired. This near-reunion was the basis for the TV movie Two of Us. On the November 20, 1976, show, musical guest George Harrison appeared, but Michaels told him the offer was conditional on all four members of the group showing up, not just any Beatle. Harrison told Michaels his refusal to pay him his share is "chintzy," and Michaels countered by saying, "The Beatles don't have to split the money equally. They can give, say, Ringo less if they want."
Other work
Michaels founded the production company Broadway Video in 1979, 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 US market in 1989 on cable television network HBO until moving to CBS in 1993.
During 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.
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 and has been married three times.[23] 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.[18] Michaels and Shuster were married in 1971 and divorced in 1980.[24] He married model Susan Forristal in 1981, which ended in divorce in 1987. Michaels is married to Alice Barry, his former assistant. The pair wed in 1991.[23]
Michaels became a US citizen in 1987[23] and was inducted into the Order of Canada in 2002.[25]
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 | Producer | |
| 1993 | Wayne's World 2 | Producer | |
| 1994 | Lassie | Producer | |
| 1995 | Tommy Boy | Producer | |
| 1995 | Stuart Saves His Family | Producer | |
| 1996 | Black Sheep | Producer | |
| 1996 | Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy | Producer | |
| 1998 | A Night at the Roxbury | Producer | |
| 1999 | Superstar | Producer | |
| 1999 | Man on the Moon | Cameo as himself | |
| 2000 | The Ladies Man | Producer | |
| 2001 | Enigma | Producer | |
| 2004 | Mean Girls | Producer | |
| 2007 | Hot Rod | Producer | |
| 2008 | Baby Mama | Producer | |
| 2010 | MacGruber | Producer | |
| 2012 | The Guilt Trip | Producer | |
| 2015 | Staten Island Summer | Producer | |
| 2016 | Whiskey Tango Foxtrot | Producer | |
| 2016 | Brother Nature | Producer | |
| 2016 | Masterminds | Producer | |
| 2017 | Sandy Wexler | Cameo as himself |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970–1971 | The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour | Costar, writer, producer | Variety sketch series, CBC |
| 1975–1980; 1985–present | 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 | Executive producer | 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 | Executive producer | Awards ceremony, FOX |
| 1988–1995; 2022 | The Kids in the Hall | Executive producer | Variety sketch series, CBC/Amazon Prime Video |
| 1993–2009 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Executive producer | Variety talk series, NBC |
| 2002 | The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch | Executive producer | Television film |
| 2002 | The Colin Quinn Show | Executive producer | 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 | Executive producer | Variety talk series, NBC |
| 2011–2018 | Portlandia | Executive producer | Variety sketch series, IFC |
| 2011–2013 | Up All Night | Executive producer | Television series, NBC |
| 2013–2015 | The Awesomes | Executive producer | Television series, Hulu |
| 2014–present | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Executive producer | Variety talk series, NBC |
| 2014–present | Late Night with Seth Meyers | Executive producer | Variety talk series, NBC |
| 2014 | Howard Stern Birthday Bash | Himself | Television special |
| 2014–2015 | Mulaney | Executive producer | Television series, Fox |
| 2014 | The Maya Rudolph Show | Executive producer | Variety talk series, IFC |
| 2015–2017 | Man Seeking Woman | Executive producer | Variety sketch series, FX |
| 2015–present | Documentary Now! | Executive producer | Variety sketch series, IFC |
| 2015 | Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special | Executive producer, himself | Television special, NBC |
| 2015 | Adele Live in New York City | Executive producer | Television special, NBC |
| 2016 | Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee | Guest – Himself | Episode: "Everybody Likes to See the Monkeys", Netflix |
| 2016 | Maya & Marty | Executive producer | Variety sketch series, NBC |
| 2017–2018 | Detroiters | Executive producer | Television series, Comedy Central |
| 2017 | The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special | Executive producer | Television special, NBC |
| 2018–2021 | A.P. Bio | Executive producer | Television series, NBC/Peacock |
| 2018 | 70th Primetime Emmy Awards | Executive producer | Awards ceremony, NBC |
| 2018 | Love, Gilda | Himself | Documentary, HBO |
| 2018 | Norm Macdonald Has a Show | Guest – Himself | Episode: "Lorne Michaels", Netflix |
| 2019–2021 | Shrill | Executive producer | Television series, Hulu |
| 2019–present | Miracle Workers | Executive producer | Television series, TBS |
| 2019–present | The Other Two | Executive producer | Television series, Comedy Central/HBO Max |
| 2019–2022 | Los Espookys | Executive producer | Television series, HBO |
| 2020 | Mark Twain Prize: Dave Chappelle | Himself | Awards ceremony, PBS |
| 2020 | Mapleworth Murders[26] | Executive producer | Television series, Quibi |
| 2021–2022 | Kenan | Executive producer | Television series, NBC |
| 2021–present | That Damn Michael Che | Executive producer | Television series, HBO Max |
| 2021–present | Schmigadoon! | Executive producer | Television series, Apple TV+ |
| 2021 | Saturday Morning All Star Hits! | Executive producer | Television series, Netflix |
| 2021 | MacGruber | Executive producer | Television series, Peacock |
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 | Producer | August Wilson Theatre | Broadway and North American tour |
In popular culture
In the 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.[27]
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.[28]
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.[29]
Honors
In 1999, Michaels was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame[30] and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[24]
Also in 1999, Michaels received an honorary degree from Ryerson University.[31]
In 2003, he received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.[32]
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".[33]
Michaels received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in 2006, Canada's highest honor in the performing arts.[17]
In 2008, Michaels was awarded the Webby for Film & Video Lifetime Achievement. With the allotted 5-words allowed to each recipient, his five-word acceptance speech was "Five words is not enough".[34]
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.[35]
In December 2021, Michaels was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors, along with Justino Diaz, Berry Gordy, Bette Midler, and Joni Mitchell.[36]
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
| Companion of the Order of Canada (C.C.) |
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| Member of the Order of Canada (C.M.) |
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| Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for Canada |
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| Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for Canada |
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| Presidential Medal of Freedom |
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References
- ^ a b Swaine, Jon (February 17, 2014). "Lorne Michaels: the inscrutable kingmaker of comedy". The Guardian. from the original on August 23, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ a b Kaplan, Don (May 12, 2013). "Lorne Michaels, the Kingmaker of Comedy". NY Daily News. from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ a b "Lorne Michaels". Biography.com. A&E Television Networks. November 21, 2016. from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ a b Simon, Paul (April 13, 2012). "Paul Simon on Friend and S.N.L. Creator Lorne Michaels". Vanityfair.com. from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
- ^ a b "Gal Gadot hosts Saturday Night Live, sends a message in Hebrew to her Israeli fans - OMG - Jerusalem Post". Jpost.com. from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
- ^ "Lorne Michaels: Biography". Britannica.com. August 26, 2015. from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
- ^ Robinson, Joanna (January 26, 2015). "Lorne Michaels: Biography Book Saturday Night Live". VanityFair.com. from the original on January 27, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
- ^ "Lorne Michaels: Official SNL Bio". NBC.com. January 1, 2017. from the original on December 27, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
- ^ Kennedy, John R. (April 16, 2016). "Toronto-born SNL Creator Lorne Michaels on Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People List". Global News. from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
- ^ "Lorne Michaels". emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ "Lorne Michaels: Saturday Night Live Creator". NBC. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- ^ Swaine, Jon (February 17, 2014). "Lorne Michaels: the inscrutable kingmaker of comedy". The Guardian. from the original on July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ "Lorne Michaels | Biography, Saturday Night Live, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ "Jews in the News: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Neil Simon and Lorne Michaels". Tampa Jewish Community Centers & Federation. February 11, 2015. from the original on August 23, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
- ^ Robinson, Joanna (February 26, 2016). "New Lorne Michaels Biography Will Look at How Political Correctness Has Changed Saturday Night Live". Vanity Fair. from the original on July 15, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
- ^ Shriver, Ryan (2008). . Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2008.
- ^ a b "Award Recipients: Lorne Michaels 2006 Lifetime Artistic Achievement (Broadcasting)". Governor General's Performing Arts Awards. from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
- ^ a b Smith, Chris (March 13, 1995). "Comedy Isn't Funny". New York Magazine. from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ Elvis Costello - Radio Radio - SNL original footage 1977 on YouTube
- ^ a b c "The Stunt That Got Elvis Costello Banned From Saturday Night Live (1977)". www.openculture.com. September 27, 2013.
- ^ . Snltranscripts.jt.org. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
- ^ . Archived from the original on November 13, 2006.
- ^ a b c Ginsberg, Gabriella (February 18, 2015). "Lorne Michaels". Hollywood Life. from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ a b "Biography and Filmography: Rosie Shuster". Hollywood.com. February 6, 2015. from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, Information and Media Services (April 30, 2009). "Honours: Order of Canada - Lorne Michaels, C.M., LL.D." Governor General of Canada Archives. Government of Canada. from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ Porter, Rick (December 3, 2019). "Lorne Michaels' Quibi Murder Mystery Lines Up All-Star Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ Higgins, Chris (April 25, 2014). "25 Things You Might Not Know About 'Brain Candy'". Mental Floss. from the original on January 2, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
- ^ "'Wayne's World': How Mike Myers and Dana Carvey Resolved Their Feud". The Hollywood Reporter. from the original on November 22, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
- ^ Unscripted with Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey on YouTube – 1:56–2:38. Retrieved September 5, 2010
- ^ "Lorne Michaels: Latest News & Photos". NY Daily News. from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ "Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships".
- ^ . Canada's Walk of Fame. Archived from the original on June 5, 2008.
- ^ "'SNL' creator Michaels honored". Today.com. Associated Press. October 25, 2004. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ "2008 Webby Award Winner: Lorne Michaels". The Webby Awards. from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ "Personal Award: Lorne Michaels". Peabody Awards. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia. from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ "Announcing the 44th Kennedy Center Honorees". The Kennedy Center. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ a b "Mr. Lorne Michaels | The Governor General of Canada". from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Mr. Lorne Michaels | The Governor General of Canada". from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Lorne Michaels | The Governor General of Canada". from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ Harris, Gardiner (November 22, 2016). "Obama Awards His Last Presidential Medals of Freedom". The New York Times. from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
External links
- Official website
- Lorne Michaels at IMDb
- Lorne Michaels discography at Discogs
- Talking About Lorne Michaels at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
- Audio of Lorne Michaels 1967 comedy act with Hart Pomerantz
- Lorne Michaels on National Public Radio in 2005