Rumors about Lorne Michaels' retirement fromSaturday Night Livehave been running rampant as of late, and former cast member Molly Shannon knows exactly who should replace him.Michaels has served as the showrunner of the NBC sketch comedy variety seriessince he created it in 1975. 50 years later, it might be time for someone else to take over the role.
During an interview withPeople,Shannon (who served as a cast member from 1995 to 2001)discussed who should succeed Michaels asSaturday Night Live’s showrunner. At first, she said,“Lorne is irreplaceable … He’s just a one-of-a-kind genius. Brilliant. Smart.“However, when asked about the idea of veteranSNLstar Kenan Thompson replacing Michaels, Shannon was more than onboard. She said:
“I love this idea. He’s the greatest — I adore Kenan. [Kenan is] so talented. That’s an excellent idea.”
What Molly Shannon’s Comments Mean For Saturday Night Live’s Future
Can Kenan Thompson Replace Lorne Michaels?
Lorne Michaels has given varying answers concerning his retirement fromSNLover the years. He previously suggested that he would step down after season 50. However, the NBC show’s historic season has come and gone, and Michaels is still around. Based on speculation andunderratedSNLcast memberMolly Shannon’s comments, though, that might not be the case for very long.
It still might be a few years before Michaels retires, depending on unforeseen circumstances. But when the time comes, Thompson could very easily be the person to step into Michaels' shoes, given how long he has been around Studio 8H.Thompson has been anSNLcast member since 2003,making him thelongest-tenured cast member inSNL’s history. If anyone deserves to take the reins from Michaels, it’s Thompson.
Our Take On Shannon’s Recommendation
Thompson Would Be A Good Choice To Take Over SNL
Everyone has different opinions about who shouldreplace Lorne Michaels asSNL’s showrunneronce he retires. Some claim it should beWeekend Updatehost/SNLwriter Colin Jost, while others would prefer famous former stars such as Tina Fey or Seth Meyers. Nevertheless, Shannon is right. Kenan Thompson is a great choice to fill in for Michaels after he steps down.
Shannon, who often gets overshadowed by otherSNLperformers but is undoubtedly among the greats,knows what she’s talking about. Thompson is supremely talented. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t have been asuccessful part of theSaturday Night Livecastfor more than two decades (and counting).
Kenan Thompson has received six Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his work onSaturday Night Live, winning one in 2018 for Outstanding Music and Lyrics for “Come Back, Barack.”
However, it remains to be seen who Michaels would want to take over once he retires asSNL’s showrunner. There are so many people to choose from, including Jost, Fey, Meyers, and more. Only time will tell if Shannon’s thoughts about Thompson come to fruition, and unfortunately, it’s unclear when that decision about Michaels' replacement onSaturday NightLivewill be made.
