‘Lorne’ review: maker of ‘SNL’ is central to laughable documentary

“Remember when ‘SNL’ was good?”

That’s a question you’ve probably asked yourself at some point – maybe even now. “Saturday Night Live” has certainly had its ups and downs over the decades, miraculously reaching its 50th anniversary last year.

One man is really responsible for that: the show’s creator and executive producer, Lorne Michaels.

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The 81-year-old Canadian, who has worked on a whopping 46 seasons of the long-running NBC sketch comedy show, rarely gives interviews, but as the milestone season approached, he was persuaded to become the subject of a documentary from Oscar-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (“20 Feet from Stardom,” “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”).

Neville was given unprecedented access to Michaels over a two-year period, documenting the behind-the-scenes chaos that comes with every show, watching him dine at his favorite Italian spot in New York City, and even visiting his farm and blueberry patch in Maine, a remote getaway to which a select few have been invited. The end result is “Lorne.”

What’s remarkable about “Lorne” is that so many of the people interviewed — many of whom have worked with him for decades — don’t really know that. know Michaels. As “SNL” alum Maya Rudolph tells Neville there’s “folklore” people hear about him in the halls of Studio 8H. Or Kristen Wiig, who says, “He has a mystical man behind the curtain.” Even Tina Fey downplays her socializing with him, and she worked with him on “SNL” And “30 Rock.” Cast members past and present laugh at how intimidating their mentor can be and his bizarre work habits, such as starting the workday at 4:30 p.m. because he doesn’t wake up until noon.

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Pictured: (l-r) Producer Lorne Michaels, Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd during rehearsal for “Weekend Update” on December 17, 1977. (NBCU Photobank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

“Lorne” is packed with top interviewers, including Adam Sandler, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock, Lily Tomlin, Martin Short, Paul Simon, Candice Bergen, Alec Baldwin, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Bill Hader, Andy Sandberg, John Mulaney, Bowen Yang, Fred Armisen, Mike Myers and Dana Carvey. And that’s not even counting the various hosts Neville was able to see working behind the scenes, such as Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, Shane Gillis and Jake Gyllenhaal. We even get to hear from Michaels’ old “fish man.”

The documentary, humorously narrated by “SNL” alumnus Chris Parnell, packs a lot into 100 minutes. It benefits from a wealth of source material, as there are many classic sketches sprinkled throughout. But it wouldn’t hurt to also interview more than twenty comedians and comedy writers who spend most of their time making jokes. It’s hard to think of a documentary funnier than “Lorne.”

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“SNL” creator Lorne Michaels (center) launched the careers of several comedy stars, including Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, David Spade, Kevin Nealon, Rob Schneider, Mike Myers and Phil Hartman. (Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

While the film emphasizes the good times, it also returns to the show’s gritty moments. But in the end it held up time and time again. It reinvents itself.

Central to this documentary is the question: “Who is Lorne Michaels?” Whether it answers the question is up for debate, but one “SNL” historian had a good theory.

“The show is an X-ray of Lorne,” he said.

Maybe he’s right. There would be no “Saturday Night Live” without Lorne. He lives and breathes “SNL.” And the show will truly be entering uncharted territory once he retires. It is widely believed, even in his circle, that NBC will use a chainsaw due to the show’s wildly inflated budget, something the network wouldn’t dare touch with Lorne around.

But judging by this film, Lorne doesn’t seem to be slowing down just yet. Conan O’Brien calls him “show business’s ultimate survivor,” noting, “He’s still around and 100 executives aren’t.”

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Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, released by Focus Features. (Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.)

The verdict

Whether you love or hate ‘SNL’ in its current form, the show’s impact on American culture is undeniable, so a glimpse into the mastermind behind it all is warranted. “Lorne” is a laugh-out-loud walk down memory lane for anyone who appreciates Michaels’ contribution to comedy.

★★★ — STREAM IT LATER

“Lorne” has a rating R for language and a sexual reference. Playing time: 1 hour and 40 minutes. Now in cinemas.

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