Presently in its forty eighth 12 months on the air — all however 5 beneath the management of creator Lorne Michaels — everybody needs to know what is going on to occur to the NBC staple when Michaels inevitably retires and, extra importantly, who’s going to take over?

It is uncommon for a singular imaginative and prescient to dominate a present for so long as Michaels has, however it additionally makes it an much more daunting job to contemplate discovering anybody to take over as soon as that individual steps down. Michaels has already steered he is contemplating doing so after Season 50.

After all, probably the most logical factor to do is look by means of the illustrious and large lineup of expertise that has come by means of the “SNL” machine. Lots of the present’s greatest names have additionally served as writers on the present, with just a few even rising to go author.

A kind of former head writers, who was with the present longer than each different solid member save two (Kenan Thompson and Darrell Hammond, who’re each nonetheless working there), was just lately requested on “The Fckry” podcast if he is the one who’s going to take over.

Seth Meyers solely stepped away from “Saturday Night time Dwell,” the place he served as head author and host of “Weekend Replace” for a few years, as a result of a spot at “Late Night time” opened up when Jimmy Fallon moved as much as “The Tonight Present.”

Michaels stays linked with Meyers, as a producer on “Late Night time,” so their skilled relationship has by no means ended. It might be silly to suppose that Meyers hasn’t been at the very least talked to or thought-about for the place.

However the “Late Night time” host shortly shut that down, per ET, by saying he isn’t doing it. Fellow alum Leslie Jones, who co-hosts the podcast with Lenny Marcus, chimed in along with her personal thought.

“I believe it is gonna be Tina Fey, truthfully,” she steered, which is one other title that is been tossed round. Like Meyers, Fey served as head author and hosted “Weekend Replace.” She’s since gone on to develop into a titan of comedy.

However Meyers is extra involved about anyone with the ability to step up and helm that present the way in which Michaels does, and lots of it comes down to 1 easy factor, the present’s huge finances, which Michaels is ready to safe.

“Lorne actually pushes for that, for that finances too,” Jones agreed. “‘Trigger it takes some huge cash to run. And I believe they provide it to him as a result of it is Lorne.”

On the similar time, “SNL” is such an enormous cultural touchstone on a stage with “The Tonight Present,” it is laborious to think about NBC not supporting it for so long as they’ll. It has just about no competitors on Saturday’s and has had super success with its sketches on digital platforms.

One has to think about the search is already underway to determine who’s going to take over, or maybe they’ve even been discovered already. If that’s the case, it will be comprehensible for NBC to not need to put the horse earlier than the cart practically three years out.

Plus, you would not need something to overshadow these subsequent three seasons as “SNL” approaches it is unbelievable fiftieth 12 months on the air, with Lorne Michaels nonetheless steering the ship. Discuss an enormous celebration!

You’ll be able to try a clip under from Meyers’ look on “The Fckry” the place he talks about his very first episode, which occurred to be the primary episode to air after the 9/11 tragedy.