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Lorne MICHAELS: "crimes...doing it in broad daylight. ...denouncing (him) doesn't work"
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https://puck.news/lorne-michaels-on-colbert-trump-the-future-of-snl/
Lorne Michaels Speaks! Colbert, Trump, ‘SNL50’ Secrets, and the New Season
In a rare interview, the 80-year-old SNL creator promises a major shake-up to the cast, reflects on The Late Show’s cancellation (and the impact on Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon at NBC), and weighs the pressures of producing late-night TV in the Trump era.
In a rare interview, the 80-year-old SNL creator promises a major shake-up to the cast, reflects on The Late Show’s cancellation (and the impact on Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon at NBC), and weighs the pressures of producing late-night TV in the Trump era.
.... Matt Belloni: What was your first reaction when you saw that CBS had fired Colbert and killed the Late Show franchise?
Lorne Michaels: I was just stunned. I’m on the side of the people who do shows, but there’s two audiences now. There’s the audience that is [watching on] TikTok and YouTube, and there’s a linear audience. Both Seth [Meyers] and [Stephen] Colbert are heirs to David Letterman. You know what I mean? Conan [O’Brien] as well. They’re going to be doing that [type of show], just as I’m still doing SNL, as if everybody’s watching that night. But Jimmy [Fallon] does a lot of stuff that you can watch all day.
That’s the economic issue. Do you think that the Colbert cancellation was political?
I don’t think any of us are going to ever know that. The thing that was formative to me—and you’re too young for this—was the cancellation of The Smothers Brothers [by CBS in 1969, after the show featured anti-Vietnam War activists and comedy]. That was a huge thing. I later asked Tommy [Smothers] to do [SNL], when I was planning the first six shows, and he said no. Later we talked about it, and he said, “I was still so angry.” That was four years later. And I thought, Being a martyr is thrilling, and everyone’s cheering, and then it’s show business. It just goes on.
Have you been assured by Comcast that the Jimmy and Seth shows are safe for the foreseeable future? They’re both signed through 2028.
Yes. I think [Comcast C.E.O.] Brian Roberts—who I will be working for for the rest of my life, who I have very high admiration for—has integrity. But at the same time, everyone has [broadcast] licenses, everyone has… you know. But I really don’t believe that we affect things.
Even with this president?
Even with this president. Whatever crimes Trump is committing, he’s doing it in broad daylight. There is absolutely nothing that the people who vote for him—or me—don’t know. You know what I mean? And he is a really powerful media figure. He knows how to hold an audience. That’s a very powerful thing, and I think it was always underestimated. His politics are obviously not my politics, but denouncing [him] doesn’t work. ....
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