In 'Lorne' doc, 'SNL' creator doesn't seem keen to retire (yet)

Culture & TrendsIn 'Lorne' doc, 'SNL' creator doesn't seem keen to retire (yet) “He likes having the leverage he has now to protect the show,” director Morgan Neville said of his film’s subject, Lorne Michaels. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary "Lorne," a Focus Features release.Focus FeaturesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 16, 2026, 12:00 PM EDTBy Rebecca KeeganIt’s not easy being the comedy king. And now “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels is finally ready to let the world see just how hard it is to captain a 50-year-old pop culture institution.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Michaels, the guarded Canadian producer who launched the live late-night sketch comedy show in 1975, is the subject of a new documentary called “Lorne,” which Focus Features will release in theaters on Friday. (NBCUniversal is the parent company of Focus Features, NBC and NBC News.) But the film isn’t a swan song for the 81-year-old showrunner. In fact, in one scene in the film, Michaels tells his longtime friend Steve Martin that he can’t retire because he needs to “protect” “SNL.” “I think he feels if he opens the door on [retirement] too much, the wolves will circle,” director Morgan Neville said in a recent Zoom interview. “He likes having the leverage he has now to protect the show.”Neville, who has also directed documentaries about Fred Rogers, Paul McCartney and Anthony Bourdain, said Michaels overcame his long-standing reluctance about being on camera in part to reveal just what it takes to keep a show like “SNL” running.The film offers a window into Michaels’ singular management style — which has outlasted generations of sensitive performers and demanding NBC executives. Neville took his cameras behind the scenes at 30 Rock’s Studio 8H during multiple production weeks, capturing the fre...