“Saturday Night Live” creator and longtime producer Lorne Michaels may be involved in the recently launched British version of the sketch comedy show, but insists he’s not very hands-on.
“My plan was that it was the cooler of the two shows and they beat us to it. It was smarter, it was funnier, it was more original, and it had to be that,” Michaels said Tuesday night at the Los Angeles premiere of his documentary “The Lawn,” which was shown at Universal. “It had to be unique. It couldn’t be an imitation of what we’re doing.”
Michaels’ remarks were made during a post-screening Q&A moderated by NBCUniversal Entertainment chief Donna Langley.
Michaels said he was in “constant” discussions with British producer James Longman and head writer Darran Jono Johnson. Still, he said, “This has to be their show, because I can tell you how to do it. I’ve been doing it for 50 years and I know how to do it. (But) you should do it your way.”
‘Saturday Night Live UK’ premiered on March 21st. The cast includes Hamed Animashaun, Ayoade Bumboy, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Mariano, Annabelle Marlowe, Al Nash, Jack Shepp, Emma Siddi, and Paddy Young.
The documentary Focus Features, directed by Morgan Neville, features archival material and interviews with SNL cast members and writers, including Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, John Mulaney, Andy Samberg, Conan O’Brien and Chris Rock.
In the documents, Michaels, 81, told Steve Martin over dinner at Oso in New York City that he had no intention of retiring.
Introducing the film, Mulaney said, “I don’t think Lorne Michaels is going to leave, but obviously a lot of people are excited. Who’s the lucky duck who doesn’t have a lot of stature and gets to run that show for a third of his salary?”
On the red carpet, Neville said that while he may have had unprecedented access to the famously private Michaels, he couldn’t shed light on two topics. “He didn’t want to talk about his family,” Neville said. “And he didn’t want to talk about how much money he had. But he made it. I don’t know if you asked.”
“Loan” will be released on April 17th.
See more photos from the “Lone” premiere below.
Morgan Neville, Donna Langley, Lorne Michaels, Steven Spielberg
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Jon Hamm and Anna Osceola
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Laraine Newman and Stephen Weber
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owen wilson
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Vanessa Bayer and Kyle Mooney
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Rob Morrow and Tu Simone
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Susan Eagly and Kevin Nealon
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chris parnell
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