Lorne Michaels Admits Major Cast Shake-Up Coming [WATCH]

NBC’s Saturday Night Live is preparing for what its creator and longtime producer Lorne Michaels described as a “significant shake-up” in the cast ahead of the launch of its 51st season this fall.

In an interview with Matthew Belloni of Puck, Michaels, 80, said decisions on which performers would remain on the sketch show will be finalized “in a week or so.”

While he did not name specific individuals, he confirmed that “several current cast members are expected to exit” before the season premiere on October 4.

Trump’s Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

When asked whether he intended to make changes ahead of the new season, Michaels responded simply: “Yes.”

He added that the announcement on cast adjustments will come shortly before production resumes.

The show enters its new season following the departure of cast members Punkie Johnson and Molly Kearney, who confirmed in early August that they would not return.

The current roster includes 17 players, with notable figures such as Colin Jost, Bowen Yang, and Kenan Thompson among the best-known names.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

[esi random_video_player ttl=”0″]

Michaels reflected on efforts to maintain stability during the show’s 50th anniversary season earlier this year, noting the return of several past stars to mark the milestone.

“I wanted people coming back and being part of the 50th season,” Michaels said, recalling how Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, and Maya Rudolph returned as part of the celebrations.

“That meant there couldn’t be those kind of disruptions, or anything that was going to take the focus off the 50th season. And we had an election.”

Looking ahead, Michaels said he feels “pressure to reinvent this season” and emphasized that final details would be revealed within days.

The new season is set to premiere Saturday, October 4, at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock following a summer hiatus since May 17.

In addition to discussing SNL, Michaels weighed in on the late-night television industry, particularly the decision by CBS to end The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May 2026.

He described himself as “stunned” by the move and noted that shifts in audience behavior have divided viewers between social media platforms and traditional broadcast television.

“There’s the audience that is (watching on) TikTok and YouTube, and there’s a linear audience,” Michaels said.

“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.”

Michaels pointed out that Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show content is often designed for viewing outside of its nightly broadcast.

CBS and Paramount executives confirmed last month that Colbert’s program will “end its historic run” in 2026, citing losses of around $40 million per year.

The network said it would retire The Late Show franchise entirely, describing Colbert as “irreplaceable.”

The future of SNL after Michaels’ eventual retirement remains uncertain.

Robert Thompson, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, said in July that NBC could consider ending SNL once Michaels steps away, citing the challenges of replacing him.

“(Lorne Michaels) can’t keep doing that forever,” Thompson told the Daily Mail.

“If he decides to retire, or can’t do those shows anymore, NBC would be [in] an interesting position. It would be the easiest time to say, we had a good run.”

He noted that NBC might also consider pulling back from late-night programming entirely, given ongoing financial losses.

CNBC reported that SNL, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Late Night With Seth Meyers collectively cost the network about $100 million per year more than they generate in traditional advertising revenue.

Producing SNL costs around $4 million per episode, or approximately $100 million annually.

While the show attracted around 8 million live viewers during its 25th anniversary season and maintains a strong presence online, traditional advertising revenue has not been enough to offset costs.

An insider disputed the $100 million annual loss figure when contacted by the Daily Mail, saying the number is reduced when digital advertising and other revenue streams are included, though acknowledging the shows do not break even.

SNL remains a cultural institution, with high-profile celebrity hosts and musical performances.

It has launched the careers of numerous comedians including Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, Chris Rock, and Maya Rudolph.

Still, with shifting viewing habits and rising production costs, its future beyond Michaels remains uncertain.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.