Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live

“Tuesday” chronicles a typical Tuesday in Michaels’s life during a production week of Saturday Night Live. It begins with his evening arrival at 30 Rock and traces his interactions with staff, his idiosyncratic work habits, and his involvement in every stage of the show’s development—from host dinners to late-night script meetings. The narrative offers a close-up of Michaels’s leadership style, emphasizing his preference for tradition, hands-on management, and nocturnal creativity. In addition, the chapter illustrates his complex relationships with cast members, writers, and celebrities, revealing the emotional labor of running SNL and the mythology that surrounds him. The chapter closes by describing how Michaels wraps up his night around one o’clock in the morning as others continue writing. The text underscores how his role blends mogul, mentor, editor, and therapist in a workplace charged with pressure, ego, and constant reinvention.

After separating from his wife and leaving Canada behind, Michaels moved back to Los Angeles in 1973, struggling to rebuild his career. He took a series of writing jobs, including on The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour and The Perry Como Winter Show, but felt creatively unfulfilled amid television’s stale conventions.