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Lorne Michaels Isn't Sure 'SNL' Should Go On Without Him

Lorne Michaels Isn't Sure 'SNL' Should Go On Without Him
Lily Karlin
By 

Associate Entertainment Writer, The Huffington Post

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 25: Lorne Michaels attends HBO's Official 2014 Emmy After Party at The Plaza at the Pacific Design Center on August 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 25: Lorne Michaels attends HBO's Official 2014 Emmy After Party at The Plaza at the Pacific Design Center on August 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images)

Lorne Michaels doesn't seem so confident in the future of "Saturday Night Live." In advance of the show's 40th anniversary special, set to air on Sunday, Feb. 15, the show creator opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about his succession plan. When Michaels, now 70, was asked if the sketch show should "go on without [him]," the producer revealed he wasn't sure.

I don't know. I'm going to keep doing it as long as I possibly can because I love it and because it's what I do. But there is more niche stuff [now]. Us doing 'Update' and giving it 10 minutes in a 90-minute show was a big deal, but Comedy Central and Jon Stewart, none of that existed then. So things have fragmented. The thing that I always find difficult about criticism of the show is that we're broadcast, which means there are people who like us in all 50 states. I'm incredibly proud of the show 'Portlandia' that I do, but it's designed for an audience that just wants that and loves that. So I don't know how long.

Michaels launched "Saturday Night Live" in 1975, and has since (with a brief hiatus) grown it into a talent-launching hub for the mainstream comedy world. Notable alums from throughout the series' run include Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Chris Rock, Tiny Fey and Amy Poehler (among dozens of others). Looking back on the show's history, Michaels also opened up about its much-noted transition from cutting edge to "family" friendly.

Some time in the '90s, I was overseas and there was a bunch of people who had kids there. I didn't have kids then, but they talked about watching the show -- they were baby boomers -- with their kids, and I went, 'Really?' I got back from the trip and we were doing a 'Wayne's World' truth-or-dare skit with Madonna, and I watched it at dress and I went, 'That's going to be a real squirm moment for parents and kids, so let's pull that back a little bit,' which we did. So it morphed into a family show, without having to compromise that much, frankly.

For the full interview with Michaels, head over to The Hollywood Reporter.

Before You Go

1
Sean Connery
NBC via Getty Images
Pictured: (l-r) Kristen Wiig as Kathie Lee Gifford, Tom Hanks, Darrell Hammond as Sean Connery, Norm McDonald as Burt Reynolds during the 'Jeopardy!' skit on May 16, 2009 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
2
Dick Cheney
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Pictured: (l-r) Darrell Hammond as Dick Cheney, Will Ferrell as George W. Bush during the 'Cheney In Makeup' skit on May 16, 2009 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
3
Jay Leno
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Pictured: (l-r) Fred Armisen as Larry King, Darrell Hammond as Jay Leno, Bill Hader as Conan O'Brien (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
4
Johnny Cash
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Pictured: Darrell Hammond as Johnny Cash during the 'Unearthed' skit on Dec. 6, 2008 (Photo by Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
5
Bill Clinton
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Pictured: (l-r) Seth Meyers, Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton during the 'Weekend Update' skit on Nov. 22, 2008 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
6
Regis Philbin
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Pictured: (l-r) Darrell Hammond as Regis Philbin, Amy Poehler as Kelly Ripa during the 'Live with Regis & Kelly' skit on Nov.1, 2008 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
7
George W. Bush
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Pictured: Darrell Hammond as President George W. Bush during 'Weapon Discoveries' skit on Nov. 1, 2008 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
8
Wolf Blitzer
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Pictured: Darrell Hammond as Wolf Blitzer during 'The Situation Room' skit on Feb. 24, 2007 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
9
Don Imus
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Pictured: (l-r) Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Darrell Hammond as Don Imus during 'Weekend Update' on April 14, 2007 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
10
Arnold Schwarzenegger
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.Pictured: Darrell Hammond as Arnold Schwarzenegger during 'Kuatos' skit on April 21, 2007 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
11
John Travolta
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Pictured: (l-r) Rachel Dratch as Rhonda Rogan, Darrell Hammond as John Travolta, Maya Rudolph as Oprah Winfrey during 'Oprah' skit (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
12
Rodney Dangerfield
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Pictured: (l-r) Darrell Hammond as Rodney Dangerfield, Horatio Sanz as St. Peter during 'Rodney in Heaven' skit (Photo by Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
13
Donald Trump
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Pictured: (l-r) Donald Trump as Jerry the Janitor, Darrell Hammond as Donald Trump during 'The Prince and the Pauper' skit on April 3, 2004 (Photo by Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
14
Chris Matthews
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Pictured: Darrell Hammond as Chris Matthews during 'Hardball' skit on Oct. 28, 2006 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
15
Dan Rather
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Pictured: Darrell Hammond as Dan Rather during 'The Fringe Candidates Debates' skit on May 12, 2007 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
16
John McCain
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Pictured: (l-r) Andy Samberg as Carl Levin, Darrell Hammond as John McCain, Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton during the 'Petraeus Report on Iraq' skit on April 12, 2008 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
17
Jimmy Carter
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Pictured: (l-r) Fred Armisen as Thomas Friedman, Justin Timberlake as Robin Gibb, Jimmy Fallon as Barry Gibb, Darrell Hammond as Jimmy Carter, Kristen Wiig as Sandra Day O'Connor during 'The Barry Gibb Talk Show' skit on Dec. 16, 2006 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
18
Don Knotts
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Pictured: (l-r) Bill Hader as Vincent Price, Darrell Hammond as Don Knotts during 'Vincent Price's St. Patrick's Day Special' skit on March 11, 2006 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
19
Pervez Musharraf
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Pictured: (l-r) Bill Hader as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Darrell Hammond as Pervez Musharraf, Amy Poehler as Kim Jong Il, Fred Armisen as Hugo Chavez during 'Hugo Chavez Political Roundup' skit on Sept. 30, 2009 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
20
Al Gore
NBC via Getty Images
Pictured: (l-r) Darrell Hammond as Al Gore, Seth Meyers as John Kerry during 'Weekend Update' on Jan. 21, 2006 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
21
Bill O'Reilly
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Pictured: Darrell Hammond as Bill O'Reilly during 'The O'Reilly Factor' skit on Dec. 10, 2005 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
22
Clint Eastwood
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Pictured: (l-r) Darrell Hammond as Clint Eastwood, Kenan Thompson as Bernie Mac, Seth Meyers as Sean Penn, Fred Armisen as George Carlin during 'Sean Penn's Celebrity Roast' skit (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
23
Jesse Jackson
NBC via Getty Images
Pictured: (l-r) Seth Meyers, Darrell Hammond as Jesse Jackson, Kenan Thompson as Al Sharpton during 'Weekend Update' on Feb. 10, 2007 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
24
Donald Rumsfeld
NBC via Getty Images
Pictured: (center) Darrell Hammond as Donald Rumsfield during 'Town Hall Meeting' skit (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
25
Geraldo Rivera
NBC via Getty Images
Pictured: (l-r) Darrell Hammond as Geraldo Rivera, Will Ferrell as Neil Diamond, Chris Kattan as Gay Hitler, Jeff Richards as Drunk Girl, and Jimmy Fallon as Himself during 'Weekend Update' on May 18, 2002 (Photo by Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
26
Fred Thompson
NBC via Getty Images
Pictured: (l-r) Darrell Hammond as Fred Thompson, Fred Armisen as Sam Waterston during 'A Message from Fred Thompson ' skit on Oct. 6, 2007 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
27
George Lucas
NBC via Getty Images
Pictured: Darrell Hammond as George Lucas during the 'HBO First Look' skit on Jan. 12, 2002 (Photo by Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
28
Dr. Phil
NBC via Getty Images
Pictured: (l-r) Rachel Dratch as Jamie, Tom Brady as Ken, Darrell Hammond as Dr. Phil McGraw during 'Dr. Phil' skit (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
29
Ted Koppel
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Pictured: Darrell Hammond as Ted Koppel during 'Nightline' skit on March 6, 2004 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
30
Brit Hume
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Pictured: (l-r) Will Forte as George W. Bush, Darrell Hammond as Brit Hume during 'Special Report' skit on Oct. 21, 2006 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
31
John Ashcroft
NBC via Getty Images
Pictured: (l-r) Will Ferrell as President George W. Bush, Darrell Hammond as John Ashcroft during 'You Might Be A Terrorist' skit on Dec. 1, 2001 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
32
Chris Dodd
NBC via Getty Images
Pictured: (l-r) Darrell Hammond as Christopher Dodd, Will Forte as Evan Bayh during the 'Blagojevich Hearing' skit on Dec. 13, 2008 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
33
Bob Costas
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Pictured: (l-r) Halle Berry as Cindy Cooper, Darrell Hammond as Bob Costas, Jeff Richards as Pete Rose, Horatio Sanz as Don Zimmer (bottom) during 'The Don Zimmer Sports Spectacular' skit on Oct. 18, 2003 (Photo by Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
34
Tim Russert
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Pictured: Darrell Hammond as Tim Russert during the 'Meet The Press' skit on March 6, 2004 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
35
Phil Donahue
NBC via Getty Images
Pictured: (l-r) Jeff Richards as Michael Moore, Darrell Hammond as Phil Donahue during 'Donahue' skit on Nov. 16, 2002 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
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