Documentarian Morgan Neville won an Oscar for a film about backup singers called “20 Feet from Stardom,” and, figuratively speaking, that’s about as close to Lorne Michaels as he can get in his latest film.
“Lorne” is a breezy and entertaining portrait of the Sphinx-like creator of “Saturday Night Live.” But while Michaels is a willing participant, he is also a standoffish one. Neville’s cameras take us inside Michaels’ crowded office as he and the cast and writers discuss each week’s show; as he stands to one side taking mental notes during rehearsals; and as he silently fumes over the tiniest of mistakes during the show’s live audience dress rehearsal hours before the televised final product.
Neville, who once worked as a journalist in the Bay Area with the Pacific News Service and Pacifica Radio, filmed much of the documentary in 2024, capturing some fun behind-the-scenes footage during weeks when Ryan Gosling and Shane Gillis were guest hosts.
The 81-year-old Michaels changed television comedy forever when he created “SNL” in 1975, but “Lorne” shows how he laid the groundwork with stints as a writer for NBC’s “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” and, back in his home country of Canada, as a writer and performer with “The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour.” Lily Tomlin hired him to produce a series of televised specials despite the fact she hated him at first. They’ve since become lifelong friends.
“Saturday Night Live” cast members Marcello Hernández, left, and Kenan Thompson, right, flank creator Lorne Michaels at the premiere of the documentary “Lorne” at Alice Tully Hall in New York on Thursday, April 9. (Evan Agostini/Associated Press)
A creature of habit, Michaels usually has lunch at the same restaurant at the same table every day – including one Neville films with Steve Martin, who first guest-hosted the show in 1976 and has become a close friend. Another buddy, Paul Simon, also weighs in.
Yet little is known about his personal life even by longtime cast members. What will be news to most viewers is that he owns a blueberry farm in Maine, his getaway during the show’s downtime, and is known for gifting jars of organic preserves and jams to “SNL” personnel.
Few, however, get an invite to Maine. Conan O’Brien, the former late night talk show host who got an early career break as a writer, jokes in “Lorne” that he pictures Michaels hunting unfortunate guests a la “The Most Dangerous Game” and imagines stumbling over “the mummified body of Rob Schneider” as he attempts to escape.
“Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels is profiled in director Morgan Neville’s documentary “Lorne.” (Focus Features)
Neville is allowed to visit, but judging from the footage included in the film, it seems like he must have spent only about half a day there.
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3 stars
“Lorne”: Documentary. Directed by Morgan Neville. (R. 100 minutes.) In theaters Friday, April 17.
The chief pleasure of “Lorne” is watching others talk about him, especially “SNL” cast members past and present. They range from original cast member Laraine Newman to current stars Colin Jost and Michael Che, who sit together on a couch and riff on Michaels, demonstrating the chemistry they display as anchors of “Weekend Update.”
Chris Rock, Martin Short, Bill Hader, Will Ferrell, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig and Berkeley native Andy Samberg are among the too-many-to-name-here who sit for Neville’s camera.
The fact that some of comedy’s biggest stars agreed to be in the documentary might be the biggest testament to Michaels’ impact. “Lorne” makes it clear that nearly everyone in the entertainment industry who is known for creating laughs owes a debt of gratitude to the master.
This article originally published at ‘Lorne’ review: Even ‘SNL’ stars barely know him. This film gets closer.
