Seth Meyers just stirred the pot in the world of late-night television. In a revealing new interview, the former Saturday Night Live head writer and "Weekend Update" anchor dropped a bombshell. He thinks Lorne Michaels, the creator and longtime executive producer of SNL, already knows who will take his place when he eventually steps down. Dun dun duuun!
Michaels sparked rumors about stepping down at the time of SNL’s 50th anniversary. He’s previously hinted at retiring soon, which has led to speculation about who might take over the iconic show. People like Seth Meyers and Tina Fey are often mentioned as top contenders. While Meyers mentioned in the past that he wasn't actively pursuing the job, he recently acknowledged that it’s possible Michaels could tap him as his successor.
In a recent conversation on the Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso podcast, Meyers mentioned that it is possible Michaels could choose him to take over SNL one day. He also expressed how deeply flattering it is to be considered, even though he believes no one can truly replace Michaels. In addition, he mentioned how he wants people to know that he feels proud and respected when he's mentioned as a possible successor.
“It’s so flattering,” Meyers said, stressing that he doesn’t think “anyone can replace Lorne,” but added, “I don’t want people to think that I don’t feel esteem when I hear it.” - via The Daily Beast
At this time, no one has been officially approached or informed about any succession plans. In other words, it's still unknown who will ultimately step into the legendary producer’s shoes when the time comes. However, Meyers believes Michaels has likely made up his mind privately about who will replace him, but he hasn't shared this with anyone, not even the person he’s chosen.
“I do believe he has already talked to himself about who it’s going to be. And that person doesn’t know.”
According to Meyers, Michaels has a habit of dropping major news unexpectedly, acting like everyone already knows. So, when it comes time to talk to the person who will replace him, Meyers suggests that Michaels will probably approach the conversation the same way. He'll likely surprise them by treating it as if it’s already decided and understood.
Besides not knowing who will ultimately succeed Micheals, there’s also uncertainty about when the transition will happen. Although Michaels has hinted at his retirement, he continues to stay actively involved with SNL, leaving many to wonder if and when he will truly step down. In fact, Meyers previously suggested on Mike Birbiglia’s Working It Out podcast that talk of Michaels’ departure might be premature. He stated that since Michales has a "flair for the dramatic," he believes that he wasn't actually serious when he made the retirement statement.
Who really knows when Michaels will step down? But for now, he remains firmly at the helm of SNL. Stay tuned to GeekSided for more news on all things Saturday Night Live.
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