What Happens To SNL If Lorne Michaels Retires? 5 Best Candidates To Replace Him

It's difficult to imagine a world without Lorne Michaels serving as Saturday Night Live's showrunner, but it's inevitable (and could come sooner rather than later), meaning the TV series would need to find his replacement. Michaels created the NBC late-night live sketch comedy variety show in 1975, and 50 years later, he's still the boss. The producer/writer extraordinaire has achieved many accomplishments over the course of his time on Saturday Night Live, including 106 Emmy nominations (with 21 wins) for the comedy legend and launching many actors' careers. However, all good things must end eventually.

Lorne Michaels' 106 Primetime Emmy Award nominations holds the record for the most nominations for an individual in the show's history.

Rumors concerning Michaels' retirement from Saturday Night Live have been brewing for years, brought on by his comments suggesting season 50 would be his last. With the series in the midst of airing its 50th season, though, many wonder if now is the time for Michaels to step down. Meanwhile, some viewers believe the showrunner will continue with SNL for another season or two. Michaels himself said in an interview, "As long as it's important, and I can be useful, I'll stay," per The Hollywood Reporter. Nevertheless, someone will have to replace Michaels one way or another once he inevitably retires.

5 Tina Fey

Cast Member & Writer From 1997 To 2006

Tina Fey is probably the most obvious choice to replace Lorne Michaels as Saturday Night Live's showrunner, seeing as he has already advocated for her to take over his role. While on the 2024 Emmys red carpet, an interviewer with Entertainment Tonight asked Michaels if Fey would be considered to replace him if he were to ever step away from SNL. He replied:

"It could easily be Tina Fey. Tina is brilliant and great at everything. She's a very important person in my life."

However, Michaels made it a point to confirm there would be many people in the running to become SNL's new showrunner. Still, Fey would be an excellent choice. She joined the variety series' writing staff in 1997, and in 1999, she became the show's first female head writer. Fey officially joined the cast as a featured player in 2000. By the following year, she was promoted to the main cast. Fey ultimately left SNL in 2006 to work on 30 Rock, but to this day, she is considered one of the best and most important cast members/writers in the show's history.

4 Seth Meyers

Cast Member & Writer From 2001 To 2014

Aside from Tina Fey, Seth Meyers' name is the one that is brought up the most when pondering who will take over Lorne Michaels' job once he retires. Meyers joined the Saturday Night Live cast in 2001, and later became the writing supervisor in 2005. One year later, Meyers became the co-head writer alongside Fey and Harper Steele. Then, he became the sole head writer for the 2006-2007 season.

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Meyers' last SNL episode came in 2014 as he left the series to succeed Jimmy Fallon as the Late Night host on NBC. More than a decade has passed and Meyers remains the Late Night host and executive producer. So, it's safe to say that Meyers is more than qualified to be SNL's new showrunner.

3 John Mulaney

Writer From 2008 To 2013

John Mulaney would be a great pick to step into Lorne Michaels' shoes — he has prominent experience on Saturday Night Live, received several Emmy nominations for his work on the variety series, and is simply hilarious. Mulaney auditioned for SNL in 2008 and secured a place on the writing staff. Over his years with the show, Mulaney wrote many acclaimed sketches and created various memorable characters (like Bill Hader's Stefon).

John Mulaney's Notable Movies & TV Shows	Role
Saturday Night Live	Writer/Producer/Host/Various Roles
Mulaney	Himself/Creator/Executive Producer/Writer
Documentary Now!	Writer/Producer/Actor
Big Mouth	Andrew Glouberman (voice)/Consulting Producer
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse	Peter Porker/Spider-Ham (voice)
John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City	Himself

After leaving Saturday Night Live in 2013, Mulaney performed a lot of standup. He has also written and produced for other TV shows, including Documentary Now! Most recently, Mulaney returned to Studio 8H to write for and appear in Saturday Night Live's "SNL50: The Anniversary Special" in February 2025. Consequently, it won't be a surprise if Mulaney is chosen to replace Michaels.

2 Steve Higgins

Producer & Writer From 1995 To Present

Out of everyone, Steve Higgins is the most qualified person to succeed Lorne Michaels as Saturday Night Live's showrunner. Higgins has served as a producer and writer on NBC's sketch comedy variety series since 1995, giving him more than three decades of experience within the walls of Studio 8H. In addition to SNL, Higgins has also worked with Jimmy Fallon since 2009. He was the announcer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and continued the position when Fallon took over The Tonight Show. It's easy to see how Higgins is one of the (if not the) best candidates for the job.

1 Conan O'Brien

Writer From 1988 To 1991

Last, but certainly not least, Conan O'Brien should, without a doubt, be considered to take over Lorne Michaels' job at Saturday Night Live once he retires. Michaels hired O'Brien as an SNL writer in 1988. He remained on the writing staff until he chose to leave in 1991.

Over the years, O'Brien has continued producing and hosting several TV series and performed standup, making him a great candidate to replace Michaels as Saturday Night Live's showrunner.

Two years later, Michaels chose O'Brien to succeed David Letterman as the host of Late Night. He stayed there for 16 years, and to this day, remains the show's longest-serving host. Over the years, O'Brien has continued producing and hosting several TV series and performed standup, making him a great candidate to replace Michaels as Saturday Night Live's showrunner.