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Lorne Michaels Speaks! Colbert, Trump, ‘SNL50’ Secrets, and the New Season

In a rare interview, the 80-year-old SNL creator promises a major shake-up to the cast, reflects on The Late Show’s cancellation (and the impact on Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon at NBC), and weighs the pressures of producing late-night TV in the Trump era.

Lorne Michaels
Turns out, the fate of the new season will be determined by early next week, when Lorne makes final decisions about which castmembers will be asked back, who’s joining the show, “Weekend Update” anchors, and more. Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Matthew Belloni
August 22, 2025

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Lorne Michaels called me this afternoon for a tight 30-minute chat. I had wanted to talk to him about the whole Stephen Colbert firing at CBS, the possible political pressure from Trump, and how that might or might not impact Saturday Night Live and the two other late-night shows that Michaels produces for NBC. Plus, the famously elusive Michaels hasn’t done any media interviews since his blockbuster SNL50 anniversary special—and its accompanying music extravaganza and four separate tribute documentaries—owned the culture for a few weeks back in February, earning 31 Emmy nominations for the franchise. And, of course, I was curious how Lorne planned to follow all that with a new season of SNL, which is set to begin October 4.