This biography of legendary Saturday Night Live creator and producer Lorne Michaels is literally all you would ever want it, or any other celebrity biography, to be.

Having read Tom Shales and Andrew Miller’s fabulously reported SNL oral history “Live From New York” several times, and having listened to every “WTF with Marc Maron” episode ever to feature a current or former SNL cast member while Marc asks them for all of their Lorne stories, and having watched what feels like every clip in existence of current and former cast members doing Lorne impressions, I wasn’t sure what more there was to learn about this enigmatic man.

But author Susan Morrison has clearly put in the work. Years of it. And she seems to have gotten unprecedented access to both Lorne and those who have been part of the last 50+ years of his life.

The story of Lorne’s life is split into six chronological segments and each segment is interwoven with the story of one day of the week during the production of a 2018 episode of SNL. So you get to go deep into Lorne’s history and psyche but also learn some behind-the-scenes tidbits about how the show works.

This book is a must read for any SNL fan, especially right now as the show celebrates its 50th anniversary and the country waits with bated breath to see if he’ll retire now that the show is 50 and he is 80!

Fabulously entertaining and informative. Filled with great quotes and stories from the first 50 years of SNL and from Lorne’s life. So well written - it moves fast and its fun but also provides a social history of the last 50 years through the life of Lorne a pivotal figure in the world of entertainment during the past half century. Indispensable. Read it.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!

Getting offered this book was an absolute win for me - I'm a bit of a showbiz junkie, so this book was right up my alley. While the origination of SNL was before my time, this remains a very interesting story that I couldn't wait to dive into. This book was exquisitely detailed and revealing, and I loved all of the anecdotes I would not have known otherwise. I could not put this one down!

Thank you again for the ARC!

I have read a lot of books about SNL and have to say this one is the best. Morrison has amazing access. She talks to EVERYONE. She even spends a week at Lorne's side during the making of a show one week, which provides the best depiction I've ever seen of what a week at SNL is really like. The pacing of the book is perfect. Morrison devotes the proper amount that each era deserves. You get lots of description of the great years while lesser years are breezed over.

A friend of Lily Tomlin's describes Lorne as someone who could get into a revolving door after you, but would still arrive before you. After reading the book, you'll agree that's a pretty great description of the guy.

If you're interested in TV, comedy or show biz, you need to read this book. It's outstanding.

I received a free e-galley of the book in return for an honest review.

When it began 50 (yikes) years ago, Saturday Night Live relished in its image of gonzo television, and helmed by Lorne Michaels has somehow retained that aura while gaining respect. This heavily researched biography does a great job of telling Michaels's story and how he shaped the show featuring the kind of humor that he appreciates. The most interesting parts to me were of how the show is crafted, the creative forces necessary to go live from New York at precisely 11:30 on Saturday nights. He has remarked that they go on not because they are ready, but because it's time. Fascinating but not a perfect 5 because it could have used a bit of trimming.

When I saw a biography of longtime SNL producer, Lorne Michaels, available as an ARC from Random House and NetGalley, I speedily requested a chance to read it.

Growing up my mom was always an SNL fan and I remember the first night I was allowed to watch it when we had to stay up late to pick someone up from the airport. Rather than miss watching my mom allowed me to lay on the couch and watch when it came on. Then as I got older I stayed up with her to watch and caught all the reruns on Comedy Central. In the late 2000’s I transformed my now husband from a sporadic viewer to a regular watcher and now we share age appropriate skits with our kids. Our family has multiple SNL quotes that infuse our family vernacular.

The author, Susan Morrison, structured this book in such a great way. Each section corresponds to a day of the week of an SNL production week. Monday, when the production for an episode first begins, started with a section following a modern Monday on SNL and then explored Lorne’s early years. This continues on, section by section with each SNL day corresponding to a period in Lorne’s life until Saturday when we get a glimpse of a show day, followed by an epilogue to the book.

Ms Morrison did a great job presenting Lorne as a real person with both strengths and weaknesses. I laughed out loud multiple times and learned a number of things I didn’t already know, both about Lorne and the show. She also did a great job curating quotes to go along with her story telling and choosing anecdotes around SNL that painted a picture even if they didn’t directly reference Lorne.

This biography could easily appeal to fans of biographies, fans of SNL, or anyone looking at a glimpse behind the curtain of one of Hollywoods most well known producers. It was well timed for the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live and makes a worthy add to anyone considering an SNL deep dive to commemorate the occasion.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

SNL has been on my Saturday plans since I was old enough to watch. For me, that has been 45 years! This book was delightful. The author, Morrison, is a New Yorker editor and the amount of research and insight was incredible - well-written, well-organized and well-paced. It's a whopper of a book and I enjoyed all of it. I loved the inside baseball of it all and the stories in and out of Rockefeller Center. This one is a blast. Take your time and enjoy it. I did. Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy. I'm grateful.

Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live
By Susan Morrison

Completely fascinating– I could talk about this book all day! If you’re a comedy nerd, a lifelong SNL fan, or intrigued by Lorne Michaels lore, you need to pick up this biography. At almost 700 pages, the book is long but I ate it up and loved how it was arranged.

Morrison takes us through a week in present day leading up to the air date of a show on Saturday night, then cuts to Lorne’s history beginning long before he created SNL. We get a detailed history of SNL full of quotes from cast members from the beginning of SNL to current day. The author digs into the behind the scenes not only of SNL but television production and politics. It is so interesting to learn about all the ways SNL is connected to tons of pop culture moments.

Reading about the early days of SNL gave me anxiety- we’ve all heard the stories but the detailed writing made me feel like I was experiencing it. Lorne is quite the character and I’ve always wanted to know more about him and this book delivers. Lorne has undoubtedly changed comedy, discovered many of my all-time favorite comedians and writers, and he seems like such a unique person. I also laughed out loud at the many quips and jokes throughout and especially enjoyed reminiscing on bits that were cut from the show.

Thank you Penguin Randomhouse and NetGalley for the early read!

This was my first non-fiction book of the year and what a way to start! I have always loved SNL and have watched it with my family for years. When the movie Saturday Night came out I was so excited and I got to learn about the shows birth which was very stressful to watch to say the least but very good. This book is like that movie 10x. It dives deep into Lorne’s life from his roots in Toronto all the way until he ended up starting SNL. It was so motivating to see his drive for the craft and to see what happens behind the scenes in the writers room with different celebrities every week.

Take any and all books/materials on SNL and inject them directly into my veins. I started watching about three years ago at the encouragement of a former coworker (Hi, Cara!) and haven't looked back since. Nothing gets me hyped more for my Sunday morning long run than watching the previous night's SNL.

However, most deep-dives into SNL leave out the mastermind himself: Lorne Michaels. It's always interesting to me to see how certain key events in a person's life shapes who they become (revisionist history novel on if HRC hadn't gotten back together with Bill, anyone?). I've always wondered how Lorne has the stamina to handle running SNL for nearly 50 years (Yeah, I won't talk about the years he wasn't there), and now I have it.

I also liked how it talked about how he got to have his fingers in the pies of various projects his former cast members have done. Probably my favorite part was how each section of the book was titled after a day of the week, and outlined what that day would look like in the 30 Rock offices, centered around the real life experiences of the show introducing Jonah Hill to the 5 Timers Club. Do I wish they had chosen a different show to model in 2025 given all the crap with Jonah Hill? Yes. C'est la vie.

I’ve wished for this book for so many years. Lorne Michaels has always fascinated me and my expectations were very high. I wasn’t disappointed.

Lorne goes deep. This book covers him from his childhood to now and it really covers everything. That made the book a little longer than necessary. It also name drops as much as Lorne does. That’s my only issue with it.

The research and writing are so well done. I really recommend this one!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

Just finished this enjoyable and fascinating biography of Lorne Michaels and SNL by New Yorker editor Susan Morrison. I was impressed by how much detail was provided given the 50-year span it covers, but it was still easy to read and kept the momentum going. It gave an interesting perspective on a cultural institution that has changed over multiple generations of people at SNL and provided interesting context for old and new SNL watchers. As someone who has watched SNL since the 90s I thoroughly enjoyed this well-researched and well-crafted history.

Lorne Michaels is the founder and executive producer of Saturday Night Live. After fifty years on the show, he is famous for his quiet power, but his backstory is not really talked about. This authorized biography tells of Michaels' Canadian roots, his Hollywood and early NY years, how SNL started, and it's ups and downs thru the years with Michaels as its main constant.

If you are an SNL fan, you need to read this book. I have loved SNL all of my life and still watch it with my family and learning all the behind the scenes was very interesting. The author talked a lot about the weekly process on writing and producing the show and also tied it into events in Lorne's past. I loved the behind the scenes of the actors that got famous on the show, for better or worse, and where the show is today. I loved reading about the process in which they write and choose the skits and the timeline of the week and how close it all comes to right before it goes to air. I love biography, process books, and behind the scenes of things I like, and this book is all three. It is long (650+ pages), but well worth the read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

Lorne, written by New Yorker editor Susan Morrison, offers a revelatory exploration of one of television’s most influential figures. With unparalleled access to Michaels himself, as well as candid interviews with SNL alumni like Tina Fey, Chris Rock, Will Ferrell, and John Mulaney, Morrison paints a multifaceted portrait of a man whose brilliance and contradictions have baffled, frustrated, and awed generations of writers and performers. Over the past fifty years, Lorne Michaels has shaped comedy and pop culture in ways few could have predicted when Saturday Night Live first graced the airwaves in 1975. Morrison’s thorough research and in-depth reporting shine throughout the book, filled with captivating anecdotes, sharp analysis, and fascinating trivia. Whether you’re a diehard SNL fan or simply interested in the evolution of comedy as a cultural force, Lorne is an essential read. This is not just the biography of Lorne Michaels; it’s the story of a man who forever changed the course of television and comedy.
Described by many as both an “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and a “distant, strange comedy god,” Michaels is simultaneously a genius and an enigma. The mastermind behind one of the most successful, unpredictable, and long-running institutions in television history, he remains elusive and private. Morrison unpacks the contradictions and complexities of his personality, revealing the tension between his cold, calculating side and his undeniable artistry. He is both an exceptionally shrewd businessman and a deeply committed artist, with an uncanny ability to spot and nurture talent while keeping his personal life largely hidden. Through anecdotes and insights from a wide array of SNL stars and collaborators, it’s clear that working with Michaels could be both exhilarating and exasperating. But no one can deny his genius. From the legendary early years with Chevy Chase, John Belushi, and Dan Aykroyd, to the rise of modern stars like Kristen Wiig, Amy Poehler, and Pete Davidson, Lorne provides a unique insight into the inner workings of the show that redefined television sketch comedy. It’s a wild, eye-opening, and utterly entertaining account of a man whose influence is still felt in every corner of comedy today. Morrison has delivered a deeply humanizing story that will resonate with readers long after they finish it. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review Lorne.

As a fan of Saturday Night Live, I enjoyed reading this account of Lorne Michaels. It was interesting to see the origin story of how he became the king of television. Love SNL or hate it, it is an iconic show and Lorne is synonymous with it. I really liked how the book was laid out. Getting a peak behind the curtain of life during the week of a taping was fascinating. It was great to read the back and forth through the years. Highly recommend if you're interested in an larger than life persona and the show that is known everywhere.

I received a free DRC of this book through Netgalley. I grew up watching SNL and seeing Lorne Michaels in the credits and sometimes on screen so this book appealed to me as a part of shared cultural history. It's a very long book, but the writing keeps you going with all of the anecdotes and behind the scenes dirt both on Lorne personally and all of the SNL characters that we grew to love or hate. The pacing is good and the amount of drug use makes me surprised that we didn't lose more actors to overdose during the 1970s. If you still have a soft spot for SNL from your teen years, then you may find this interesting as I did.

If somebody were to have asked me prior to reading this book what I knew about Lorne Michaels, I’d have responded, “The SNL guy? Seems kind of inscrutable, but I’ve never actually given him that much thought.”

And you know what? He still seems like he’s probably kind of inscrutable to me. And maybe a little unpleasant to be around, in that “auteur aura” sort of way.

I enjoyed the book’s dual narrative of switching between Michaels’s personal story - of his early years and influences, career beginnings, and wading through the phases of what SNL should and would be over the course of fifty years - and the narrative of one week spent following the creation of one SNL episode from start to finish. I never considered what Michaels might have gotten up to prior to SNL - writing and performing in his own sketch show on the CBC, writing for Laugh-In and Lily Tomlin in California - or where he actually picked up so many of the Not Ready For Prime Time Players and writers that would originate SNL with him, so it was interesting to me learning about the different mediums, people, and experiences that breathed into Michaels all that would eventually influence his creation. It was interesting trying to see SNL through the eyes of the people making it, not just Michaels.

If you are somebody who has kept up closely with SNL over the years and reads cast interviews, and you’ve seen the recent “Saturday Night” Reitman film, I’m not sure how much of what’s in this book will feel like new information to you. The author clearly spent a lot of time speaking firsthand with as many Michaels associates as possible, but a lot is also pulled from previously published interviews. As someone coming in cold, everything was fresh information to me, and the narrative felt like it worked well. I never felt like the author was poking me to either like or dislike Michaels, maintaining a neutral voice even in recounting moments that made me think, “Wow, he seems … unpleasant to be around.” Basically, I came out of this book under the impression that Lorne Michaels is the most quietly extra 80 year old in North America, for better or worse, and if that’s what it takes to create a Saturday Night Live, well, so be it.

As a huge SNL fan this was obviously a treat to read! Lorne has always been a mythical icon in the comedy world - and it's always been difficult for me as a fan to reconcile his WASPy demeanor with a man who loves comedy so much he created an institution. But this book helped fill in so many of those blanks and really rounded out who Lorne is - for better, or for worse. The only thing holding me back from giving it 5 stars is that so many of the quotes and anecdotes seemed to have been ripped from 'Live From New York', the oral history of the show. I've read that book several times so i recognized many of the lines immediately. It felt a bit lazy, in my opinion, and it happened so often it felt like huge chunks of the book weren't original enough to be necessary!

Saturday Night Live will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and has cemented itself as a pioneer of television. It is responsible for hundreds of comedian's careers and numerous sketches that people quote on a daily basis. From the 70's Rosanna Danna to 90's Wayne's World to 2010's Target Lady. The man responsible for this institution is Lorne Michaels. This book is a deep dive into his early life in Canada to his current position live from New York. It was evident that this book was heavily researched, but at times it read like a term paper. I was inundated by information overload. I had to constantly Google the names of people I was unfamiliar with while reading. I would have been fine with a few summations rather than an in depth analysis of the schisms happening behind the scenes of SNL. My favorite era of the show was the late 80's and early 90's, which featured players like Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, Molly Shannon, and Will Ferrell. This would have been better with at least 100 fewer pages, but it was a great tribute to Lorne Michaels. He is responsible for a television staple and the father of many future stars. It's a shame the current state of the show isn't up to par as its previous seasons, but who else can say their show has been on the air for 50 years?

Great behind the scenes story of the SNL creator and prevailing spirit. 5 stars. Appears to have been impeccably researched.