History of Lorne Michaels in Timeline
Lorne Michaels is a highly influential figure in television history, renowned as the creator and producer of Saturday Night Live (SNL). His impact extends beyond SNL, as he's also produced other successful shows like 'Late Night,' 'The Kids in the Hall,' and 'The Tonight Show.' Michaels' career reflects a keen eye for talent and comedic sensibilities, shaping the landscape of American comedy and late-night television for decades. His work has launched the careers of countless comedians and writers, solidifying his status as a key figure in entertainment.
3 hours ago : Lorne Michaels' documentary explores the SNL creator's life, career, and legacy.
The documentary 'Lorne' delves into the life and career of Lorne Michaels, the creator of SNL, revealing his elusive persona and impactful contributions to comedy, seemingly with no retirement plans. The documentary is directed by Morgan Neville.
1908: Abraham Lipowitz Born
In 1908, Abraham Lipowitz, Lorne Michaels' father, was born.
1915: Florence (Becker) Born
In 1915, Florence (née Becker), Lorne Michaels' mother, was born.
November 17, 1944: Lorne Michaels Born
On November 17, 1944, Lorne Michaels (born Lorne David Lipowitz) was born. He is a Canadian and American television and film producer, comedian, screenwriter, and director.
1959: Death of Abraham Lipowitz
In 1959, Abraham Lipowitz, Lorne Michaels' father, passed away.
1966: Lorne Michaels Graduates
In 1966, Lorne Michaels graduated from University College at the University of Toronto, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English.
1967: Marriage to Rosie Shuster
In 1967, Lorne Michaels married Rosie Shuster, daughter of Frank Shuster.
1968: Moves to Los Angeles
In 1968, Lorne Michaels and Hart Pomerantz moved from Toronto to Los Angeles to work as writers for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show.
1973: Lorne Michaels Writes for The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour
In 1973, Lorne Michaels returned to the United States to write for The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour, which led to him producing specials for Lily Tomlin and gaining the credibility to create Saturday Night Live.
September 20, 1975: Debut of Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell
On September 20, 1975, Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell debuted on ABC, creating a name conflict with NBC's Saturday Night. This ABC show was cancelled on January 17, 1976.
1975: Creation of Saturday Night Live
In 1975, Lorne Michaels created and produced Saturday Night Live.
January 17, 1976: Cancellation of Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell
On January 17, 1976, Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell, which had created a name conflict with NBC's Saturday Night, was cancelled.
November 20, 1976: George Harrison Appearance on SNL
On November 20, 1976, George Harrison appeared on Saturday Night Live attempting to collect the money offered to The Beatles, but Lorne Michaels stated the offer was conditional on all four members appearing.
1977: Name Change to Saturday Night Live
In 1977, NBC's Saturday Night changed its name to Saturday Night Live.
1978: Paramount Deal Offered
During the 1978-1979 season of SNL, Lorne Michaels was offered a deal to produce nine features from Paramount.
1979: Turns Down Paramount Deal
During the 1978-1979 season of SNL, Lorne Michaels turned down a deal to produce nine features from Paramount and takes a three-picture deal from Warner Bros.
1979: Broadway Video Founded
In 1979, Lorne Michaels founded the production company Broadway Video.
1980: Divorce from Rosie Shuster
In 1980, Lorne Michaels and Rosie Shuster divorced.
1980: Saturday Night Live Production End
In 1980, Lorne Michaels stopped producing Saturday Night Live, but resumed production in 1985.
1981: Marriage to Susan Forristal
In 1981, Lorne Michaels married model Susan Forristal.
1981: SNL Produced by Broadway Video
Since 1981, Saturday Night Live has been produced by Broadway Video, founded by Lorne Michaels.
January 1984: The New Show Debuts
In January 1984, Lorne Michaels' sketch show, The New Show, debuted on NBC. It was cancelled after 9 episodes.
1984: 1985 Spoof
In the early 80s, Lorne Michaels had a deal to produce movies for MGM, including a spoof of 1984 called 1985 that was set in the future.
1985: Saturday Night Live Production Resumes
In 1985, Lorne Michaels resumed producing Saturday Night Live after a hiatus.
1985: 1985 movie not released
In the early 80s, Lorne Michaels had a deal to produce movies for MGM, including a spoof of 1984 called 1985 that was set in the future. The movie was not released.
1987: Divorce from Susan Forristal
In 1987, Lorne Michaels and Susan Forristal divorced.
1987: Becomes an American Citizen
In 1987, Lorne Michaels became an American citizen.
1989: Production of The Kids in the Hall
From 1989 to 1995, Lorne Michaels produced The Kids in the Hall.
1989: The Kids in the Hall Debuts in the U.S.
In 1989, The Kids in the Hall debuted in the U.S. market on cable television network HBO.
1991: Marriage to Alice Barry
In 1991, Lorne Michaels married Alice Barry, his former assistant.
1993: Production of the Late Night Series
Since 1993, Lorne Michaels has produced the Late Night series.
1995: The Kids in the Hall Production End
In 1995, the production of The Kids in the Hall, produced by Lorne Michaels, ended.
1999: Honorary Degree from Ryerson University
Also in 1999, Lorne Michaels received an honorary degree from Ryerson University.
1999: Induction into Television Hall of Fame and Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 1999, Lorne Michaels was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2001: Death of Florence Lipowitz
In 2001, Florence (née Becker) Lipowitz, Lorne Michaels' mother, passed away.
2002: Inducted into the Order of Canada
In 2002, Lorne Michaels was inducted into the Order of Canada.
2003: Star on Canada's Walk of Fame
In 2003, Lorne Michaels received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.
2004: Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
In 2004, Lorne Michaels was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor by the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
2006: Governor General's Performing Arts Award
In 2006, Lorne Michaels received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada's highest honor in the performing arts.
2008: Webby for Film & Video Lifetime Achievement
In 2008, Lorne Michaels was awarded the Webby for Film & Video Lifetime Achievement; his acceptance speech was "Five words is not enough".
2008: Inspiration for Jack Donaghy
In a 2008 interview, Tina Fey admitted that Alec Baldwin's character, Jack Donaghy, on 30 Rock, is inspired by Lorne Michaels.
2012: Personal Peabody Award
In 2012, Lorne Michaels was awarded a Personal Peabody Award and accepted it in New York City at the Waldorf Astoria New York hotel.
April 3, 2013: Michaels Takes Over The Tonight Show
On April 3, 2013, it was announced that Lorne Michaels would take over as executive producer for The Tonight Show.
2014: The Tonight Show Moves to New York
In early 2014, The Tonight Show moved to New York as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with Lorne Michaels as executive producer.
2014: Production of The Tonight Show
Since 2014, Lorne Michaels has produced The Tonight Show.
December 2021: Honored at Kennedy Center Honors
In December 2021, Lorne Michaels was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors, along with Justino Diaz, Berry Gordy, Bette Midler, and Joni Mitchell.
2022: Peabody Award for Los Espookys
In 2022, Lorne Michaels received a Peabody Award for his work as an executive producer of the Spanish-language comedy series Los Espookys. He was also nominated for a Peabody Award for Documentary Now!.
2024: Portrayal in "Saturday Night" Film
In 2024, Gabriel LaBelle plays Lorne Michaels in the film "Saturday Night", a dramatization of events leading up to the first episode of Saturday Night Live.
2024: Depiction in The People's Joker
In 2024, Lorne Michaels was depicted in the film The People's Joker, voiced by Maria Bamford.
January 2025: Donation of Archival Materials
In January 2025, Lorne Michaels donated archival materials to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
January 2026: Lorne Michaels Collection Available for Research
In January 2026, The Lorne Michaels Collection became available for research at the Harry Ransom Center.
April 17, 2026: Release of "Lorne" Documentary
On April 17, 2026, Morgan Neville's biographical documentary "Lorne", about Lorne Michaels, was released, featuring interviews with SNL cast members.
Mentioned in this timeline
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