CenterStage by Michael Kay

Author:Michael Kay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scribner
Published: 2021-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

PART THREE THEY MADE US LAUGH

Lorne Michaels

Lorne Michaels is quite simply one of the greatest content producers in the history of television. His creation and longtime production of Saturday Night Live has created a comedic time capsule for almost half a century. His keen eye for talent uncovered some of the greatest comedy minds and performers in history. He has been in the catbird seat and watched and launched the careers of John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, and Gilda Radner in the beginning of SNL’s run while recently nurturing the genius of Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, Seth Meyers, Kate McKinnon, and Tina Fey, to name just a few.

There has been triumph and heartbreak while he has been at the helm of SNL and I was totally pumped to have his full attention for an hour. Oh, the stories he could tell.

After sitting down with Michaels, we found out what the loss of Chevy Chase to the ensemble cast meant to the franchise and who he felt was best able to fill in for the transcendent star and the sudden departure. He also revealed who he felt was the most talented cast members over the years. Just think about that: everyone who has ever watched SNL has a favorite and debated with friends who was the one who transcended the others. It was riveting to get the take of the man who found and discovered and promoted the talent. The following might actually settle some arguments that friends have had over the years.

But the most amazing thing you get from this journey with Michaels is that he has built an assembly line of greatness. He has become the Henry Ford of comedians, churning out comic geniuses rather than Model Ts.

It can’t be easy, but Michaels has made it look that way. SNL’s timeline mirrors the timeline of this country, from the performers to the subjects that they tackled.

This was easily one of the interviews I was most eager to conduct, and you’ll realize the eagerness was warranted.

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