Tina Fey Top Contender For Lorne Michaels ‘Saturday Night Live’ Replacement

Tina Fey could very well be the next executive producer of Saturday Night Live whenever Lorne Michaels decides to retire from the late night NBC sketch show.

According to the New York Post, the former writer and Weekend Update anchor is currently “being courted” to take over the position. It’s unknown, however, whether the 78-year-old Michaels has immediate plans to step down.

An NBC spokesperson has issued a statement to ET Canada claiming “there is no truth” to the New York Post report and pointed to Michaels’ interview with The New York Times last year in which he said he had “no plans to retire.”

During a 2021 interview with CBS News, however, the longtime showrunner mentioned that it was possible he would retire after SNL’s landmark 50th season in 2024-2025.

“I think I’m committed to doing this show until its 50th anniversary, which is in three years,” he said. “I’d like to see that through, and I have a feeling that’d be a really good time to leave. But here’s the point: I won’t want the show ever to be bad. I care too deeply about it. It’s been my life’s work. So, I’m gonna do everything I can to see it carry on and carry on well.”

Fey seems like a great choice, not only because she was on SNL from 1997 to 2006, but she created and executive produced the highly successful sitcoms 30 Rock and the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (in addition to writing and appearing in both shows).

Fey is currently set to write, produce, and star in a movie adaptation of the Mean Girls Broadway musical, which is based on the original film that she both wrote and starred in.

This fall, the comedian will head back out on her “Restless Leg Tour” with friend and frequent collaborator Amy Poehler.