Lorne Michaels Pushes SNL UK to Outshine US
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- Lorne Michaels said his design for SNL UK was to be “the cooler of the two shows,” “smarter, funnier, more original,” and not an imitation of the US version.
- James Longman is the UK producer of SNL UK, and Michaels says he talks “all the time” with him and head writer Daran Jonno Johnson, yet stresses the show must be theirs.
- Morgan Neville directed the documentary “Lorne,” which premiered on the Universal lot on Tuesday night and will open in theaters on April 17.
- SNL UK premiered on March 21, featuring a cast that includes Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi, and Paddy Young.
- Donna Langley, NBCUniversal Entertainment chief, moderated the post‑screening Q&A where Michaels made his remarks.
- Steve Martin was told by Michaels at dinner that the 81‑year‑old has no plans to retire.
Why it matters: Michaels’ insistence that the U.K. edition be smarter, funnier, and independent signals a strategic push to make the franchise a dual‑market brand, giving the UK producers creative autonomy and potentially attracting viewers who view the original as stale and could reshape the competitive landscape of late‑night comedy.
