Lorne Michaels

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Heidi Gardner Said to Be Leaving SNL

She's been with the sketch comedy show 8 seasons

(Newser) - Heidi Gardner is leaving Saturday Night Live after eight seasons, according to sources who spoke to outlets including Variety and the Hollywood Reporter . Gardner, who joined the cast as a featured player in 2017, was with the show for eight seasons, six of them as a main cast member. The...

The SNL Cast Departures Have Begun
SNL's Cast Departures Begin
Aug 26, 2025 9:45 AM CDT

SNL's Cast Departures Begin

Devon Walker announces his exit, along with writer Celeste Yim

(Newser) - The cast changes that typify Saturday Night Live's summer hiatus have begun, and the first departure doesn't appear to be exactly a tearful one. The first cast member out the door is Devon Walker, who joined the NBC show in 2022, and USA Today notes it's not...

SNL Is Making a Move Across the Pond

UK version of Lorne Michaels' decades-old Saturday night comedy staple to launch in 2026

(Newser) - Saturday Night Live announced on Thursday that it plans to launch a British version of the US sketch comedy show, which is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary in the States. The AP reports that the UK version of the program, produced with Sky Studios, will have a British cast of...

At One Point on Saturday, His 'Superpowers' Emerge

New Yorker profile looks at how Lorne Michaels gets SNL to stage every week

(Newser) - For 50 years now, Lorne Michaels has been shepherding Saturday Night Live to the stage, and Susan Morrison takes an in-depth look at his mindset in a New Yorker profile that pronounces him the "real star" of the show. The piece runs through the weekly schedule but zeroes in...

First SNL Host of Its 50th Season Is a Newbie

Jean Smart to helm show on Oct. 5, with musical guest Jelly Roll; other hosts, performers announced

(Newser) - Saturday Night Live's 50th season launches later this month, and an initial lineup of hosts and musical guests has been announced. The host for the kickoff Sept. 28 show will be Emmy-winning Hacks and Fargo star Jean Smart, who has never graced the SNL stage before, reports Variety . She'...

Steve Martin: I Turned Down Offer to Play Walz on SNL

I said: 'Lorne, I'm not an impressionist'

(Newser) - Steve Martin is almost 20 years older than Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, but after Vice President Kamala Harris named Walz as her running mate Tuesday, plenty of people pointed out the resemblance between the two men and urged Martin to play Walz on Saturday Night Live. Rolling Stone calls the...

Elon Musk Is Set to Host SNL. Controversy Has Ensued

Some claim that the backlash over billionaire's May 8 appearance may have been intentional for ratings

(Newser) - An announcement over the weekend that Elon Musk will host Saturday Night Live on May 8, along with musical guest Miley Cyrus, caught many by surprise—and it wasn't entirely a pleasant one. Newsweek notes that fans blasted the show, and creator Lorne Michaels, for the decision to let...

SNL Expands Cast, Has a Favorite for Biden

Show working out details, including plans for a studio audience

(Newser) - Saturday Night Live is making big plans for its 46th season. The show is bringing back all of its cast members from last year, including its semi-regulars, and adding others. "You'll see the same people," said Lorne Michaels, the show's executive producer. "I mean, Maya...

Meryl Streep: No, I Didn't Know of 'Inexcusable' Weinstein Acts

She calls women who have gone public 'heroes'

(Newser) - One common refrain being heard about the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment debacle is that his behavior was the worst-kept secret in Hollywood. And that has left people wondering why prominent, longtime collaborators never spoke up. On Monday, none other than Meryl Streep addressed that very question. "Not everybody knew,...

For 43rd Season of SNL, 3 New Cast Members

Ryan Gosling, Jay-Z help get the season started this weekend

(Newser) - Ryan Gosling and Jay-Z are the host and featured musical act, respectively, on Saturday Night Live this weekend as the show kicks off its 43rd season, but they won't be the only fresh faces on the set. An NBC statement notes three newbies—Groundlings veteran Heidi Gardner, comic Chris...

Obama Names 21 Recipients of Medal of Freedom

Michael Jordan, Tom Hanks, Bruce Springsteen, and more

(Newser) - President Obama is honoring actors Robert DeNiro, Cicely Tyson, Tom Hanks, and Robert Redford with the nation's highest civilian honor, the AP reports. They are among 21 people Obama plans to recognize with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House next Tuesday. Honorees from the sports world...

SNL to Cast Black Woman —and Soon

Final auditions pegged for Monday

(Newser) - It looks like Saturday Night Live's lack of diversity may soon be solved, at least partially: Since ribbing itself for not having a black female cast member, the show has confirmed it will add an African-American woman (possibly even two) to the cast as soon as next month, the...

Kerry Washington Ribs Ultra-White SNL

Show pokes itself over lack of black female on cast

(Newser) - Kerry Washington guest-hosted SNL last night, and helped the show razz itself over its decided lack of black female cast members (SNL does have two black male cast members, Jay Pharoah and Kenan Thompson): In a Cold Open set at the White House, Washington played Michelle Obama. Then Oprah. Then...

Behind Scenes, SNL Scrambled to Parody Debate

It's a lot more stressful than it looks

(Newser) - Along with a lot of Democrats, Seth Meyers watched the first presidential debate last week with a sinking feeling. "It’s boring enough when they’re talking about all this and how it will affect Americans, but when you’re sitting there trying to pull comedy out of it,...

SNL Getting a New Obama
 SNL Getting a New Obama  
Sep 13, 2012 2:00 AM CDT

SNL Getting a New Obama

Jay Pharoah will impersonate 'first Canadian president'

(Newser) - Saturday Night Live is getting ready to skewer another election and they've got a new President Obama waiting in the wings. Jay Pharoah will impersonate the president this time around, replacing Fred Armisen, who has been the show's Obama since 2008. "Jay has been doing Obama in...

30 Rock to Air Live Episode
 30 Rock to Air Live Episode 
Jul 31, 2010 12:21 PM CDT

30 Rock to Air Live Episode

They'll do it twice for East, West coasts

(Newser) - NBC says 30 Rock is going live this fall. Or at least one episode of it. A live show will air Oct. 14 and be performed twice so that both East and West Coast viewers get to see it that way. Shouldn't be a problem given the SNL backgrounds of...

SNL a Right-Wing Mouthpiece
 SNL a Right-Wing Mouthpiece 
OPINION
Nov 24, 2009 1:14 PM CST

SNL a Right-Wing Mouthpiece

Or latest sketch just a 'vehicle to make anal sex joke'

(Newser) - Saturday’s SNL cold opener—which poked fun at Obama’s deficit spending—conclusively marked the show as an “occasionally humorous right-wing propaganda organ,” writes Ethan Porter of True/Slant . SNL’s been obviously anti-Obama since the primaries, pausing only to mock Sarah Palin, who's far less popular than...

Small Screen's Biggest Brains
 Small Screen's Biggest Brains 
GLOSSIES
Dec 6, 2008 3:49 PM CST

Small Screen's Biggest Brains

Family Guy creator MacFarlane, ubiquitous Fey top list of TV smarties

(Newser) - It may be dubbed the "idiot box," but there are some bright bulbs behind TV's smartest shows and network deals. After polling Hollywood insiders, Entertainment Weekly lists the top 25 smarties:
  1. Seth MacFarlane, executive producer, Family Guy, American Dad.
  2. Tina Fey, executive producer, actress, 30 Rock.
  3. Nancy Tellem,
...

SNL Seeks a New Post-Election Obama
SNL Seeks a New Post-Election Obama
OPINION
Nov 21, 2008 5:25 PM CST

SNL Seeks a New Post-Election Obama

Four comedians auditioned, but no pick from Michaels yet

(Newser) - Lorne Michaels has a tough decision to make, and the fate of Saturday Night Live may depend on it: Who will parody the president-elect? Fred Armisen played Barack Obama during primary season, but the executive producer can’t squeeze 4 years of laughs out of his milquetoast portrayal, writes Jocelyn...

With Election Gone, SNL Enters 'Rebuilding' Phase

Three new members join comedy show's cast

(Newser) - The election may be over, but SNL still has 14 episodes to fill. Lorne Michaels says the show will be in one of its periodic "rebuilding" periods, but he has much praise for three new faces. Here's the lowdown, from USA Today:
  • Abby Elliott: The daughter of former cast
...

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