NBC Once Considered Firing Lorne Michaels and Replacing Him with Judd Apatow

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For nearly five decades, Lorne Michaels, the creator of Saturday Night Live, has been its guiding force, with only a brief hiatus in the 1980s. Since then, this influential Canadian comedy executive has remained at the helm of this iconic NBC show, and will continue to do so through the 2025 TV lineup. It might astonish many to discover that at one point, the network attempted to replace Michaels, and a remarkably intriguing figure was reportedly among the potential successors.

In connection with the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live (SNL) and the launch of Lorne: The Man Who Created Saturday Night Live, I connected with author Susan Morrison to delve into her new book. When I asked her about the most intriguing tales in the book, both of her responses revolved around Lorne Michaels’ leadership role. One tale was that the founder of Saturday Night Live nearly didn’t produce the show due to his reluctance to do it in New York City.

On the other hand, TopMob was surprised to learn about another intriguing account – one involving a potential loss of control, with Judd Apatow being suggested as a possible substitute. Susan Morrison began sharing this story with the following reminiscence:

It turns out I was unaware that the network had considered interviewing potential replacements for him, including Judd Apatow, who was only in his twenties at the time. In fact, there were some exploratory discussions about him taking on a producer role, but the details were rather vague. This was all happening because they were seriously considering dismissing Lorne.

To add more context, Morrison mentioned that this course of action was apparently under discussion following the departure era of Adam Sandler and Chris Farley from Saturday Night Live. At this juncture, NBC and producer Don Ohlmeyer reportedly encouraged the decision-makers to hold clandestine interviews, which ultimately led to the selection of the scriptwriter and director of The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up.

At this particular moment, it’s not shocking that Apatow was considered for the role, given that he had already produced successful shows like “The Ben Stiller Show” and “The Larry Sanders Show” by the time “Saturday Night Live” Season 20 concluded in 1995. Previously, the Michaels/Ohlmeyer disputes were known to result in dismissals, as evidenced by Norm MacDonald’s hosting stint on “SNL” following his own termination.

This book, titled “Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night LIve” penned by Susan Morrison, the editor at The New Yorker, offers “unparalleled insights into Michaels and the entire Saturday Night Live machine.” For enthusiasts of NBC’s legendary sketch show, this fresh biography is a valuable addition to their collections. View Deal

In her investigation for the book titled “Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live“, Susan Morrison uncovered not only Lorne Michaels’ thoughts on the show, but also his feelings about the process that resulted in him being considered as a potential candidate for the role. Here’s how the story unfolded further as she shared her findings with TopMob:

Judd had a deep affection for the show, a long-held dream to be part of it, sharing a living space with Adam Sandler during those times. Familiar with its workings, he felt drawn to it, yet the underhanded behind-the-scenes tactics of these individuals left him feeling that it would be inappropriate and disrespectful towards Lorne and his creation. Consequently, Judd decided against joining them, saying ‘Forget it.’ It’s not widely known, but he was in a tough spot there.

The timely arrival of the book titled “Lorne” coincides with only two days after Saturday Night Live celebrated its 50th anniversary special. This makes the recently shared anecdotes about the show’s journey through five decades of television history especially relevant and fresh on people’s minds. The author, Susan Morrison, provides a valuable perspective on the tumultuous past of SNL from her unique vantage point.

The current editor for The New Yorker, Morrison, has an acclaimed background that many fans of the series would readily acknowledge. During the early, challenging years, she served as a writer’s assistant alongside Lorne Michaels on the short-lived NBC series The New Show.

Discover the hottest shows from NBC and Bravo by signing up for Peacock TV, available for as low as $7.99 per month or $79.99 annually. If you prefer an ad-free experience with the ability to download content for offline viewing, opt for the premium plan instead. Check out the deal now!

Much like a legendary SNL performer who continues to leave an indelible impact even after they’ve departed, Michael’s influence on the show remains palpable to this very day. Pondering this fact adds an extra dose of intrigue to the story, as one can only wonder if the series would have survived its 25th anniversary, let alone thrive in the Peacock streaming era, without his contributions.

As a dedicated movie-goer, I wholeheartedly suggest diving into Susan Morrison’s captivating tale, “Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live.” This fascinating read is currently gracing the shelves of all reputable bookstores. Meanwhile, for those eagerly awaiting the next hosts and musicians on SNL, remember to tune in at your regular time and location: 11:35 PM ET, every Saturday night, on NBC. Enjoy the show!

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2025-03-12 23:37