If the word “documentary” gives you chills, fear not. This film is the most entertaining and warm-hearted you’ll see in a long time. The subject is Producer Lorne Michaels of Saturday Night Live. He is an enigmatic and taciturn man. Since 1975, he has helmed a show that keeps its finger on the pulse of American life. Surrounded by some of the funniest people in show business, he gives only subtle clues about his reactions to the skits he judges for a spot each week. A word of praise means the world to many in his cast; it is rare and coveted.
Born in Canada, his father died two years after Lorne’s Bar Mitzvah. After some writing and acting work there, he moved to LA. He worked for a time on Laugh-In, a popular sixties show. Then he produced for Lilly Tomlin for a couple of years. In an interview, she credits him for much of the success of those TV programs.
In 1975 he was given the opportunity to create and produce Saturday Night Live, it was a variety show, as many were in those years, but it was unlike anything else on American TV, the only similar show at the time was 1976’s SCTV, a show with a mostly Canadian cast, including Catherine O’Hara, John Candy, Eugene Levy and Dave Thomas. Lorne’s early cast included Andy Kaufman, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, and Gilda Radner. For most, it was their big break, and some great careers were launched.
Lorne’s ability to pick great talent is astounding. Current and recent cast members who also went on to bigger things are interviewed, and they have some nice and humorous things to say about the man. Andy Samberg, Adam Sandler, Steve Martin, Chris Rock, Tina Fey, and Paul Simon are just a few of the artists connected to the show who put in their two cents.
After two divorces, Lorne seems happily married for 30 years, with three well-adjusted children, houses in Maine and the Hamptons, and a New York apartment across the hall from Paul Simon. Besides producing SNL, he has also produced Portlandia, Wayne’s World, and the Conan O’Brien show. Still going strong, he’s a force to reckon with, and, per John Mulaney, is “super rich”.