Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live

Morrison brings a uniquely qualified lens to Lorne, combining decades of editorial experience at The New Yorker with a close, long-standing professional relationship with Michaels himself. As a seasoned editor of cultural profiles and essays—many of which detail the lives of creatives, public figures, and institutions—Morrison approaches biography with both literary sensitivity and journalistic rigor. Her background positions her to write with an insider’s fluency while maintaining the critical distance required for a compelling narrative. Though Lorne is her first book-length work, she has been shaping major nonfiction narratives for years, and her stylistic control, depth of sourcing, and structural clarity reflect that pedigree.

Morrison’s access is one of the book’s greatest assets. Over many years, she conducted interviews with Michaels and his inner circle, observed production meetings at Saturday Night Live, and accumulated firsthand stories from cast members, writers, producers, and celebrity guests. Her tone is observant but restrained, avoiding both idolization and takedown journalism. Instead, she presents a complex and sometimes contradictory portrait of a man who has shaped American comedy for nearly five decades. Her proximity to the subject allows for textured insight, but her editorial background ensures she never loses sight of the broader narrative arc or the institutional forces at play.