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— CH. 1 · TORONTO ROOTS AND UNIVERSITY YEARS —

Lorne Michaels

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  • Lorne David Lipowitz entered the world on the 17th of November 1944 in Toronto, Ontario. His parents were Florence and Abraham Lipowitz, a man who worked as a furrier. He grew up with two younger siblings in that Canadian city before attending Forest Hill Collegiate Institute. Later he enrolled at University College within the University of Toronto. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English during 1966.

    Some sources claim he was born on a kibbutz in British mandate Palestine and immigrated to Canada as an infant. These accounts are incorrect according to available records. The truth lies in his actual birthplace and family history rather than these persistent myths. This background shaped the early years of a future television titan.

  • Michaels began his professional life writing for CBC Radio while working alongside partner Hart Pomerantz. They moved from Toronto to Los Angeles in 1968 to write for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Their work also included The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show during this period. The pair returned to Canada to star in The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour throughout the early 1970s.

    He came back to the United States in 1973 to write for The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour. Lily Tomlin noticed his work and hired him to produce a series of specials. The first special won an Emmy award. Michaels credits this collaboration with giving him the credibility needed for NBC to hire him later. That specific chain of events launched his career into national prominence.

  • NBC's Saturday Night debuted in 1975 created by Michaels along with Dick Ebersol and Herb Schlosser. The show changed its name to Saturday Night Live in 1977 due to a conflict with an ABC program. It performed live before a studio audience from its very beginning. The format established a reputation for being cutting-edge and unpredictable immediately upon launch.

    Michaels served as producer, writer, and eventually executive producer while occasionally appearing on-screen himself. He offered The Beatles $3000 to reunite on the show during the first season. He increased that offer to $3200 but the money remained unclaimed. George Harrison appeared on the 20th of November 1976 to attempt collecting the funds. Michaels told him the deal required all four members to appear together rather than just one member.

  • Broadway Video emerged as a production company founded by Michaels in 1979. It has produced SNL since 1981 alongside other shows like The Kids in the Hall which began airing in 1988. That sketch comedy series started on CBC in Canada before debuting in the U.S. market on HBO in 1989.

    During the late 1970s Michaels turned down a nine-feature deal from Paramount to take a three-picture contract from Warner Bros. The Warner agreement failed to produce any movies. An MGM deal in the early 1980s resulted in only one film called Nothing Lasts Forever. This black-and-white sci-fi comedy featured Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd but never received an official release. The studio chose not to distribute it despite its completion.

  • Michaels became executive producer of Late Night with Conan O'Brien starting in 1993. He also served as executive producer for 30 Rock during its entire run from 2006 through 2013. On the 3rd of April 2013 he took over as executive producer for The Tonight Show. Consequently that program moved to New York City in early 2014 as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

    His portfolio expanded further with Documentary Now! beginning in 2015 and Los Espookys airing from 2019 to 2022. He produced Up All Night between 2011 and 2013 while overseeing Portlandia on IFC from 2011 to 2018. These projects demonstrate his ability to maintain a vast television empire across multiple decades and networks.

  • Lorne Michaels holds the record for most Primetime Emmy nominations with 112 total. He has won 24 awards throughout his career spanning several decades. In 1999 he received induction into the Television Hall of Fame plus a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. An honorary degree came from Ryerson University later that same year.

    He received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2004 at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Dan Aykroyd spoke at the ceremony describing SNL as the primary satirical voice of the country. On the 22nd of November 2016 Michaels was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the United States government. This honor represents the highest civilian award available to him.

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Common questions

When and where was Lorne Michaels born?

Lorne David Lipowitz entered the world on the 17th of November 1944 in Toronto, Ontario. His parents were Florence and Abraham Lipowitz, a man who worked as a furrier.

What is the true origin story regarding Lorne Michaels birthplace myths?

Some sources claim he was born on a kibbutz in British mandate Palestine and immigrated to Canada as an infant but these accounts are incorrect according to available records. The truth lies in his actual birthplace and family history rather than these persistent myths.

How did NBC's Saturday Night change its name from its original title?

NBC's Saturday Night debuted in 1975 created by Michaels along with Dick Ebersol and Herb Schlosser. The show changed its name to Saturday Night Live in 1977 due to a conflict with an ABC program.

Why did George Harrison never collect the $3200 offered for The Beatles reunion on SNL?

George Harrison appeared on the 20th of November 1976 to attempt collecting the funds but Michaels told him the deal required all four members to appear together rather than just one member. Michaels increased that offer to $3200 but the money remained unclaimed.

Which production company founded by Lorne Michaels has produced SNL since 1981?

Broadway Video emerged as a production company founded by Michaels in 1979. It has produced SNL since 1981 alongside other shows like The Kids in the Hall which began airing in 1988.

What major awards has Lorne Michaels received throughout his career?

Lorne Michaels holds the record for most Primetime Emmy nominations with 112 total and he has won 24 awards throughout his career spanning several decades. On the 22nd of November 2016 Michaels was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the United States government.

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