Its release is still three months away, but the cover art and blurbs for Susan Morrison’s years-in-the-making Lorne Michaels biography have been revealed.
Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live is set to be published by Penguin Random House on February 18, 2025, just two days after SNL‘s three-hour primetime 50th anniversary special.
The book is based on hundreds of interviews with Michaels’ personal friends, Michaels himself, and the show’s stars and writers. Its official synopsis describes the Canadian producer as “a revered and inimitable presence in the entertainment world. He’s a tastemaker, a mogul, a withholding father figure, a genius spotter of talent, a shrewd businessman, a name-dropper, a raconteur, the inspiration for Dr. Evil, the winner of more than a hundred Emmys–and, essentially, a mystery. Generations of writers and performers have spent their lives trying to figure him out, by turns demonizing and lionizing him.”
The big names whose blurbs line the upcoming 640-page tome range from original Not Ready for Prime Time Player Dan Aykroyd to writing alum-turned-standup megastar John Mulaney.
Conan O’Brien offers what may be one of the more biting yet respectful descriptions of Michaels, saying, “If there were a Game of Thrones of show business, Lorne would be the last person standing.”
Bill Hader pointedly describes Michaels’ reserved, withholding persona, explaining, “If you start drowning, he’s not, like, ‘Here’s a life jacket.’ He’s like, ‘Oooh, look at that guy drowning in my pool. That’s disgusting; let’s go over here and hang with Alec Baldwin.'” It’s a story that seems like it could’ve been said of Baldwin’s own Jack Donaghy, inspired by Michaels, on 30 Rock.
Steve Martin roasts Michaels, as he’s wont to do. “Dave Letterman is genuinely self-deprecating,” Martin says. “He genuinely doesn’t think he’s any good. Those problems don’t come up with Lorne.”
Bob Odenkirk is quoted simply describing the show’s boss as “some kind of very distant, strange comedy god.”
Will Ferrell praises Michaels’ calm demeanor, saying, “Baseball players keep the highs not too high and the lows not too low. That sums up Lorne’s management style; he knows that it’s a long season.” It’s a vibe embodied in the lasting image of Michaels in a suit with a drink in hand.
The metaphors that people turn to when looking to explain Michaels include Dan Aykroyd saying he’s “like P.T. Barnum,” Kate McKinnon describing him as the “great and powerful Oz,” Mulaney saying he has the longevity of Alfred Hitchock, Paul McCartney noting that Michaels always reminded him of Jack Benny, and Tracy Morgan comparing him to Obi-Wan Kenobi.
That mentor figure wisdom is shared in an anecdote from Chris Rock: “My favorite thing he always says is, ‘You can’t make an entrance if you never leave.'” It remains to be seen when Michaels will make such an exit, but he’s expressed no plan to anytime soon, despite reaching his 80th birthday this past week.
Others whose quotes are shared in support of the book include, Mike Myers, Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon, and Tina Fey, who claims that she and David Spade are Michaels’ favorites. The publisher’s official synopsis describes Michaels as “a man singularly obsessed with the show that would define his life and have a profound impact on American culture.”
The book joins the show’s upcoming 50th anniversary special and the recent release of the film dramatization of the show’s premiere, Saturday Night, as anchors of its golden anniversary year celebration. You can see what Michaels, and those who know him best choose to share of the man in Lorne next February — it’s available for pre-order now.
