View Full Version : Lorne Michaels says SNL needed cast shakeup


TMC
09-23-2022, 08:42 PM
https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2022/09/23/lorne-michaels-says-snl-cast-member-exodus-was-a-result-of-the-pandemic/?sh=653f6c943e92

Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels told the New York Times (https://www.reddit.com/r/LiveFromNewYork/comments/xm42zd/lorne_in_the_new_york_times_interview_i_have_no/) on Friday the large cast member turnover, which saw eight of the show’s comedians leaving ahead of the upcoming season starting in October, was the result of the pandemic, and said Season 48 will be “a year of reinvention.”


Michaels said the pandemic created a situation “where no one could really leave, because there were no jobs,” but then the large cast “got to a point where we had a lot of people, and people weren’t getting enough playing time.”

Michaels denied the perception that the show is tougher on Republican politicians than it is on Democratic ones, and said the last four years on SNL reflected a period “between the pandemic and the presidency” where “people were truly frightened.”

While four new featured players have been added to the cast, some mainstays will remain, including Colin Jost and Michael Che as the hosts of the segment “Weekend Update,” Michaels said.

Michaels, 77, said he has “no plans to retire,” and that the show will have a big celebration when it reaches its 50th season.

GentlemanJim
09-24-2022, 01:23 PM
SNL just seemed to grow tedious about 20 years ago. Isn't even on my radar screen anymore.

It does seem like the media in general will plunge to any low to make light of a straight white male political figure, whereas they are forced to shy away from brutal frankness when it's a woman or other minority sitting in the crosshairs. Perhaps that is where the Dem vs Republican disparity he mentions, comes from?