Lorne Michaels

Canadian-American television producer, writer, and actor (born 1944)

Lorne Michaels

Michaels at the 2021 Kennedy Center Honors

Born|

Lorne David Lipowitz

(1944-11-17) November 17, 1944 (age 80)

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Citizenship|

* USA
* Canada

Occupations|

* Producer
* writer
* comedian

Years active| 1968–present
Known for|

* Saturday Night Live
* Late Night
* The Kids in the Hall
* The Tonight Show

Spouses|

* Rosie Shuster

(m. 1967; div. 1980)​

* Susan Forristal

(m. 1981; div. 1987)​

* Alice Barry

(m. 1991)​

Children| 3

Lorne Michaels CC (born Lorne David Lipowitz; November 17, 1944) is a Canadian-American television writer and film producer. He created and produced Saturday Night Live (1975–1980, 1985–present) and produced the Late Night series (since 1993), The Kids in the Hall (from 1989 to 1995) and The Tonight Show (since 2014).[1][2][3][4]

He has received 21 Primetime Emmy Awards from 106 nominations, holding the record as the most nominated individual in the award show's history.[5][6]

## Early life

[edit]

Lorne David Lipowitz was born in Toronto, Canada, on November 17, 1944, to Florence (née Becker) and Abraham Lipowitz.[7][8] Many sources incorrectly state that he was born on a kibbutz in the then-British mandate of Palestine,[9][10][11][12] and that his Jewish family immigrated to Toronto, Canada when he was an infant.[13]

Michaels and his two younger siblings were raised in Toronto; he attended Forest Hill Collegiate Institute. He graduated from University College, Toronto, where he majored in English, in 1966.[14][15][16]

## Career

[edit]

### Early career

[edit]

Michaels began his career as a writer and broadcaster for CBC Radio.[17] He moved to Los Angeles from Toronto in 1968 to work as a writer for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show. He starred with Hart Pomerantz in The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour, a series of comedy specials that ran on CBC in the early 1970s.[18][19]

### Saturday Night Live

[edit]

Michaels at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.

In 1975, Michaels created (with fellow NBC employee Dick Ebersol and president of the network Herb Schlosser) the TV show NBC's Saturday Night, which in 1977 changed its name to Saturday Night Live (initially there was a name conflict with an ABC show titled Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell, which debuted September 20, 1975, and was cancelled on January 17, 1976). The show, which is performed live in front of a studio audience, immediately established a reputation for being cutting-edge and unpredictable. It became a vehicle for launching the careers of some of the most successful comedians in the United States.

Originally the producer of the show, Michaels was also a writer and later became executive producer. He occasionally appears on-screen as well, where he is known for his deadpan humor. Throughout the show's history, SNL has been nominated for more than 156 Emmy Awards and has won 36. It has consistently been one of the highest-rated late-night television programs. Michaels has been with SNL for all seasons except for his hiatus in the early 1980s (seasons 6–10).

Michaels appeared in the show during the first season, where he offered The Beatles $3,000 (a deliberately paltry sum) to reunite on the show.[20] He later increased his offer to $3,200, but the money was never claimed. According to an interview with John Lennon in Playboy magazine,[21] Lennon and Paul McCartney were in New York City that night and wanted to see the show. They decided against it though, as it was too late to get there in time, and they were both tired. This near-reunion was the basis for the TV movie Two of Us. On the episode airing November 20, 1976, musical guest George Harrison appeared, but Michaels told him the offer was conditional on all four members of the group showing up.[22]

### Other work

[edit]

Michaels founded the production company Broadway Video in 1979, which has produced SNL since 1981 as well as other shows such as Canadian sketch-comedy The Kids in the Hall which began airing in 1988 on CBC in Canada, debuting in the US market in 1989 on cable television network HBO until moving to CBS in 1993.

Whilst on his SNL hiatus, Michaels created another sketch show titled The New Show, which debuted on Friday nights in prime time on NBC in January 1984. The show failed to garner the same enthusiasm as SNL and was cancelled after 9 episodes.

In the 1980s, Michaels appeared in an HBO mockumentary titled The Canadian Conspiracy about the supposed subversion of the United States by Canadian-born media personalities, with Lorne Greene as the leader of the conspiracy. Michaels was identified as the anointed successor to Greene.

Michaels is also the executive producer of the NBC show Late Night, and was the executive producer of 30 Rock and Up All Night during their runs.

On April 3, 2013, it was announced that Michaels would be taking over as the executive producer for The Tonight Show. Consequently, The Tonight Show moved to New York in early 2014 as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

## Personal life

[edit]

Michaels has three children and has been married three times.[23] During the early 1960s, he began a relationship with Rosie Shuster, daughter of his comedy mentor Frank Shuster of the Wayne and Shuster comedy team, who later worked with him on Saturday Night Live as a writer.[18] Michaels and Shuster were married in 1967[24][25] and divorced in 1980.[26] He married model Susan Forristal in 1981, a marriage that ended in divorce in 1987. Michaels is married to Alice Barry, his former assistant. The pair wed in 1991.[23] He has three children, Henry, Eddie, and Sophie.[27]

Michaels became a U.S. citizen in 1987[23] and was inducted into the Order of Canada in 2002.[28]

## Credits

[edit]

### Film

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1979  | Mr. Mike's Mondo Video | Executive producer  |
1980  | Gilda Live | Producer, writer  |
1984  | Nothing Lasts Forever | Producer  |
1986  | ¡Three Amigos! | Producer, writer  |
1992  | Wayne's World | Producer  |
1993  | Coneheads | Producer  |
1993  | Wayne's World 2 | Producer  |
1994  | Lassie | Producer  |
1995  | Tommy Boy | Producer  |
1995  | Stuart Saves His Family | Producer  |
1996  | Black Sheep | Producer  |
1996  | Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy | Producer  |
1998  | A Night at the Roxbury | Producer  |
1999  | Superstar | Producer  |
1999  | Man on the Moon | Cameo as himself  |
2000  | The Ladies Man | Producer  |
2001  | Enigma | Producer  |
2004  | Mean Girls | Producer  |
2007  | Hot Rod | Producer  |
2008  | Baby Mama | Producer  |
2010  | MacGruber | Producer  |
2012  | The Guilt Trip | Producer  |
2015  | Staten Island Summer | Producer  |
2016  | Whiskey Tango Foxtrot | Producer  |
2016  | Brother Nature | Producer  |
2016  | Masterminds | Producer  |
2017  | Sandy Wexler | Cameo as himself  |
2024  | Mean Girls | Producer  | [29]

### Television

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1970–1971  | The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour | Costar, writer, producer  | Variety sketch series, CBC
1975–1980;
1985–present  | Saturday Night Live | Executive producer, creator  | Variety sketch series, NBC
1978  | All You Need Is Cash: The Rutles | Executive producer  | Television movie
1982  | The Concert in Central Park | Executive producer  | Concert special, HBO
1984  | The New Show | Producer  | Variety sketch series, NBC
1988–1990  | Sunday Night | Executive producer  | Late night television, NBC
1988  | 40th Primetime Emmy Awards | Executive producer  | Awards ceremony, FOX
1988–1995;
2022  | The Kids in the Hall | Executive producer  | Variety sketch series, CBC/Amazon Prime Video
1991  | Lookwell | Producer  | Television Movie, NBC
1993–2009  | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Executive producer  | Variety talk series, NBC
1993–1994  | The Vacant Lot | Executive producer  | Variety sketch series, CBC/Comedy Central
2002  | The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch | Executive producer  | Television film
2002  | The Colin Quinn Show | Executive producer  | Variety talk series, NBC
2006  | Sons and Daughters | Producer  | Television series, ABC
2006–2013  | 30 Rock | Executive producer  | Television series, NBC
2009–2014  | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | Executive producer  | Variety talk series, NBC
2011–2018  | Portlandia | Executive producer  | Variety sketch series, IFC
2011–2013  | Up All Night | Executive producer  | Television series, NBC
2013–2015  | The Awesomes | Executive producer  | Television series, Hulu
2014–present  | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Executive producer  | Variety talk series, NBC
2014–present  | Late Night with Seth Meyers | Executive producer  | Variety talk series, NBC
2014  | Howard Stern Birthday Bash | Himself  | Television special
2014–2015  | Mulaney | Executive producer  | Television series, Fox
2014  | The Maya Rudolph Show | Executive producer  | Variety talk series, IFC
2015–2017  | Man Seeking Woman | Executive producer  | Variety sketch series, FX
2015–2022  | Documentary Now! | Executive producer  | Variety sketch series, IFC
2015  | Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special | Executive producer, himself  | Television special, NBC
2015  | Adele Live in New York City | Executive producer  | Television special, NBC
2016  | Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee | Guest – Himself  | Episode: "Everybody Likes to See the Monkeys", Netflix
2016  | Maya & Marty | Executive producer  | Variety sketch series, NBC
2017–2018  | Detroiters | Executive producer  | Television series, Comedy Central
2017  | The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special | Executive producer  | Television special, NBC
2018–2021  | A.P. Bio | Executive producer  | Television series, NBC/Peacock
2018  | 70th Primetime Emmy Awards | Executive producer  | Awards ceremony, NBC
2018  | Love, Gilda | Himself  | Documentary, HBO
2018  | Norm Macdonald Has a Show | Guest – Himself  | Episode: "Lorne Michaels", Netflix
2019–2021  | Shrill | Executive producer  | Television series, Hulu
2019–2023  | Miracle Workers | Executive producer  | Television series, TBS
2019–2023  | The Other Two | Executive producer  | Television series, Comedy Central/HBO Max
2019–2022  | Los Espookys | Executive producer  | Television series, HBO
2020  | Mark Twain Prize: Dave Chappelle | Himself  | Awards ceremony, PBS
2020  | Mapleworth Murders[30] | Executive producer  | Television series, Quibi
2021–2022  | Kenan | Executive producer  | Television series, NBC
2021, 2022  | Miley's New Year's Eve Party | Executive producer  | Television special, NBC/Peacock
2021–2022  | That Damn Michael Che | Executive producer  | Television series, HBO Max
2021–2023  | Schmigadoon! | Executive producer  | Television series, Apple TV+
2021  | Saturday Morning All Star Hits! | Executive producer  | Television series, Netflix
2021  | MacGruber | Executive producer  | Television series, Peacock
2023  | Bupkis | Executive producer  | Television series, Peacock

### Stage

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Theatre  | Notes

|
|
|
|

1979  | Gilda Radner: Live From New York | Producer, director, and writer  | Winter Garden Theatre |
1998  | Colin Quinn \-- An Irish Wake | Producer  | Helen Hayes Theatre | Straight Play
2018  | Mean Girls | Producer  | August Wilson Theatre | Broadway and North American tour
2022  | Leopoldstadt | Producer  | Longacre Theatre | Tony Award for Best Play[31]

## In popular culture

[edit]

In The Kids in the Hall movie Brain Candy, the character of Don Roritor was based heavily on actor Mark McKinney’s impersonation of Lorne Michaels.[32]

The character Dr. Evil, the antagonist of Austin Powers in three films, has mannerisms and a speaking style based on Lorne Michaels. Dr. Evil was created and portrayed by SNL alumnus Mike Myers, who was at least partially influenced by fellow SNL performer Dana Carvey's impression of Michaels.[33]

In a 2008 interview with Playboy, as well in various other interviews, Tina Fey admitted that Alec Baldwin's character Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock is inspired by Michaels. In a different interview, on NPR's radio show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Baldwin stated that some of his inspiration for Donaghy was drawn from Michaels.[34]

Gabriel LaBelle plays Michaels in the 2024 film Saturday Night, about what happened behind-the-scenes leading up to the first episode of Saturday Night Live.[35]

## Honors

[edit]

Michaels' star on Canada's Walk of Fame.

In 1999, Michaels was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame[36] and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[26]

Also in 1999, Michaels received an honorary degree from Ryerson University.[37]

In 2003, he received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.[38]

In 2004, he was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor by the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Speaking at the awards ceremony, original Saturday Night Live cast member Dan Aykroyd described the show as "the primary satirical voice of the country".[39]

Michaels received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in 2006, Canada's highest honor in the performing arts.[17]

In 2008, Michaels was awarded the Webby for Film & Video Lifetime Achievement. With the allotted five words allowed to each recipient, his acceptance speech was "Five words is not enough".[40]

In 2012, Michaels was awarded a rare Personal Peabody Award. He accepted at a ceremony in New York City at the Waldorf Astoria New York hotel.[41]

In December 2021, Michaels was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors, along with Justino Diaz, Berry Gordy, Bette Midler, and Joni Mitchell.[42]

In 2022, Michaels received a Peabody Award for his work as an executive producer of the Spanish-language comedy series Los Espookys. He was nominated for a second Peabody Award for his work producing Documentary Now!.[43]

Ribbon | Description | Notes

|
|

| Companion of the Order of Canada (C.C.) |

* Awarded on: May 11, 2018;
* This is a promotion within the order[44]

| Member of the Order of Canada (C.M.) |

* Awarded on: May 1, 2002
* Invested on: February 21, 2003[44]

| Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for Canada |

* 2002: As a member of the Order of Canada, he was also awarded with The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.[45]

| Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for Canada |

* 2012: As a member of the Order of Canada, he was also awarded with The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.[46]

| Presidential Medal of Freedom |

* On November 22, 2016, Michaels was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States's highest civilian honor.[47]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Lorne Michaels: Biography". Britannica.com. August 26, 2015. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
2. ^ Robinson, Joanna (January 26, 2015). "Lorne Michaels: Biography Book Saturday Night Live". VanityFair.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
3. ^ "Lorne Michaels: Official SNL Bio". NBC.com. January 1, 2017. Archived from the original on December 27, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
4. ^ Kennedy, John R. (April 16, 2016). "Toronto-born SNL Creator Lorne Michaels on Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People List". Global News. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
5. ^ "Lorne Michaels". emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
6. ^ "Lorne Michaels: Saturday Night Live Creator". NBC. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
7. ^ "Canadian Jewish review, November 24, 1944, page 9 - SFU Digitized Newspapers". newspapers.lib.sfu.ca. November 24, 1944. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
8. ^ "The Canadian Jewish Review, 15 Nov 1957". The Canadian Jewish Review. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
9. ^ Swaine, Jon (February 17, 2014). "Lorne Michaels: the inscrutable kingmaker of comedy". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 23, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
10. ^ Kaplan, Don (May 12, 2013). "Lorne Michaels, the Kingmaker of Comedy". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
11. ^ "Lorne Michaels". Biography.com. A&E Television Networks. November 21, 2016. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
12. ^ Simon, Paul (April 13, 2012). "Paul Simon on Friend and S.N.L. Creator Lorne Michaels". vanityfair.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
13. ^ "Jews in the News: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Neil Simon and Lorne Michaels". jewishtampa.com. Tampa Jewish Community Centers & Federation. February 11, 2015. Archived from the original on August 23, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
14. ^ Robinson, Joanna (February 26, 2016). "New Lorne Michaels Biography Will Look at How Political Correctness Has Changed Saturday Night Live". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on July 15, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
15. ^ Shriver, Ryan (2008). "Lorne Michaels". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2008.
16. ^ Gibson, Stacey. "The House That Dave Built" (PDF). University of Toronto Magazine. Vol. 35, no. 2\. University of Toronto. p. 22. "Before he began his decades-long domination of Saturday's late-night airwaves with Saturday Night Live, Lorne Michaels (BA 1966 UC) produced and directed the student-run University College Follies."
17. ^ a b "Award Recipients: Lorne Michaels 2006 Lifetime Artistic Achievement (Broadcasting)". Governor General's Performing Arts Awards. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
18. ^ a b Smith, Chris (March 13, 1995). "Comedy Isn't Funny". New York Magazine. Archived from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
19. ^ "Remembering 'Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'". The New York Times.
20. ^ "SNL Transcripts: Beatles Offer, April 24, 1976". Snltranscripts.jt.org. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
21. ^ "John Lennon: The Playboy Interview September 1980". Archived from the original on November 13, 2006.
22. ^ Wigandt, Hannah (September 5, 2022). "George Harrison Tried Cashing in on the Money Lorne Michaels Promised for a Beatles Reunion on SNL". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
23. ^ a b c Ginsberg, Gabriella (February 18, 2015). "Lorne Michaels". Hollywood Life. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
24. ^ "TV Star Frank Shuster kisses his daughter, Rosalind, last night after her marriage at Holy Blossom Temple to Lorne Michaels. The bride interviews perf(...) – All Items – Digital Archive : Toronto Public Library". tpl.ca. November 2, 1967. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
25. ^ "Lorne David Michaels and wife : Wedding". library.yorku.ca. November 3, 1967. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
26. ^ a b "Biography and Filmography: Rosie Shuster". Hollywood.com. February 6, 2015. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
27. ^ Mannion, Katie (November 1, 2024). "Lorne Michaels' 3 Children: All About the 'SNL' Creator's Sons Henry and Eddie and Daughter Sophie". People. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
28. ^ Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, Information and Media Services (April 30, 2009). "Honours: Order of Canada - Lorne Michaels, C.M., LL.D." Governor General of Canada Archives. Government of Canada. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
29. ^ Kroll, Justin (December 9, 2021). "'Mean Girls' Musical At Paramount Sets Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli'i Cravalho, and Jaquel Spivey To Star". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
30. ^ Porter, Rick (December 3, 2019). "Lorne Michaels' Quibi Murder Mystery Lines Up All-Star Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
31. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (June 11, 2023). "Leopoldstadt Wins Best Play at 2023 Tony Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
32. ^ Higgins, Chris (April 25, 2014). "25 Things You Might Not Know About 'Brain Candy'". Mental Floss. Archived from the original on January 2, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
33. ^ "'Wayne's World': How Mike Myers and Dana Carvey Resolved Their Feud". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 22, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
34. ^ Unscripted with Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey on YouTube – 1:56–2:38. Retrieved September 5, 2010
35. ^ "'Saturday Night' Cast Guide: Meet the Actors Playing Chevy Chase, Lorne Michaels, Gilda Radner and More 'SNL' Icons". Variety. October 11, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
36. ^ "Lorne Michaels: Latest News & Photos". NY Daily News. October 24, 2008. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
37. ^ "Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships".
38. ^ "Lorne Michaels: 2003 Inductee". Canada's Walk of Fame. Archived from the original on June 5, 2008.
39. ^ "'SNL' creator Michaels honored". Today.com. Associated Press. October 25, 2004. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
40. ^ "2008 Webby Award Winner: Lorne Michaels". The Webby Awards. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
41. ^ "Personal Award: Lorne Michaels". Peabody Awards. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
42. ^ "Announcing the 44th Kennedy Center Honorees". The Kennedy Center. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
43. ^ Voyles, Blake (September 7, 2023). "83rd Peabody Award Winners". Retrieved September 7, 2023.
44. ^ a b "Mr. Lorne Michaels | The Governor General of Canada". Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
45. ^ "Mr. Lorne Michaels | The Governor General of Canada". Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
46. ^ "Lorne Michaels | The Governor General of Canada". Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
47. ^ Harris, Gardiner (November 22, 2016). "Obama Awards His Last Presidential Medals of Freedom". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

Lorne Michaels at Wikipedia's sister projects

* Media from Commons
* Quotations from Wikiquote
* Data from Wikidata

* Official website
* Lorne Michaels at IMDb
* Lorne Michaels at the Internet Broadway Database
* Lorne Michaels discography at Discogs
* The Museum of Broadcast Communications – Encyclopedia of Television "Saturday Night Live"
* Talking About Lorne Michaels at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
* Audio of Lorne Michaels 1967 comedy act with Hart Pomerantz
* Lorne Michaels on National Public Radio in 2005

* v
* t
* e

Works by Lorne Michaels

Films produced|

* Gilda Live (also wrote)
* Nothing Lasts Forever
* Three Amigos (also wrote)
* Wayne's World
* Coneheads
* Wayne's World 2
* Lassie
* Tommy Boy
* Stuart Saves His Family
* Black Sheep
* Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy
* A Night at the Roxbury
* Superstar
* The Ladies Man
* Enigma
* Mean Girls (2004)
* Hot Rod
* Baby Mama
* MacGruber
* The Guilt Trip
* Staten Island Summer
* Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
* Brother Nature
* Masterminds
* Mean Girls (2024)

TV series created|

* Saturday Night Live
* The New Show
* Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday

Awards for Lorne Michaels

* v
* t
* e

International Emmy Directorate Award

* Charles Curran (1973)
* Joseph V. Charyk (1974)
* Junzo Imamichi (1975)
* Talbot Duckmanton / Roberto Marinho / Howard Thomas (1976)
* Alphonse Quimet (1977)
* Prix Italia (1978)
* Frank Stanton (1979)
* Lew Grade (1980)
* Huw Wheldon (1981)
* Akio Morita (1982)
* Roberto Marinho (1983)
* Sidney Bernstein (1984)
* Leonard Goldenson (1985)
* Herbert Schmertz (1986)
* Jeremy Isaacs (1987)
* Vittorio Boni (1988)
* Ted Turner (1989)
* Henrikas Yushkiavitshus (1990)
* Henry Becton (1991)
* Silvio Berlusconi (1992)
* Andre Rousselet (1993)
* Helmut Thoma (1994)
* John Birt (1995)
* Herbert A. Granath (1996)
* Dieter Stolte (1997)
* Sam Nilsson (1998)
* Ralph Baruch (1999)
* Su-Ming Cheng (2000)
* Gustavo Cisneros (2001)
* Katsuji Ebisawa (2002)
* Greg Dyke (2003)
* Herbert Kloiber (2004)
* Charles Allen (2005)
* Ronald S. Lauder (2006)
* Patrick Le Lay (2007)
* Liu Changle (2008)
* Markus Schächter (2009)
* Lorne Michaels (2010)
* Subhash Chandra (2011)
* Kim In-Kyu (2012)
* Anke Schäferkordt (2013)
* Roberto Irineu Marinho (2014)
* Richard Plepler (2015)
* Maria Rørbye Rønn (2016)
* Emilio Azcárraga Jean (2017)
* Sophie Turner Laing (2018)
* Christiane Amanpour (2019)
* No Award (2020)
* Thomas Bellut (2021)
* Miky Lee (2022)
* Ekta Kapoor (2023)
* Sidonie Dumas (2024)

* v
* t
* e

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (1970–1979)

* Gary Belkin, Peter Bellwood, Thomas Meehan, Herb Sargent and Judith Viorst (1970)
* Herbert Baker, Hal Goodman, Larry Klein, Bob Schiller, Norman Steinberg, Bob Weiskopf and Flip Wilson (1971)
* Art Baer, Roger Beatty, Stan Burns, Stan Hart, Don Hinkley, Ben Joelson, Woody Kling, Mike Marmer, Arnie Rosen and Larry Siegel (1972)
* Bill Angelos, Roger Beatty, Stan Hart, Robert Hilliard, Woody Kling, Arnie Kogen, Buz Kohan, Gail Parent, Tom Patchett, Larry Siegel and Jay Tarses (1973)
* Rosalyn Drexler, Ann Elder, Karyl Geld Miller, Robert Illes, Lorne Michaels, Richard Pryor, Jim Rusk, Herb Sargent, James R. Stein, Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, Rod Warren and George Yanok (1974)
* Roger Beatty, Gary Belkin, Dick Clair, Rudy De Luca, Arnie Kogen, Barry Harman, Barry Levinson, Jenna McMahon, Gene Perret, Bill Richmond and Ed Simmons (1974)
* Roger Beatty, Gary Belkin, Dick Clair, Rudy De Luca, Arnie Kogen, Barry Levinson, Jenna McMahon, Gene Perret, Bill Richmond and Ed Simmons (1975)
* Anne Beatts, Chevy Chase, Tom Davis, Al Franken, Lorne Michaels, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Michael O'Donoghue, Herb Sargent, Tom Schiller, Rosie Shuster and Alan Zweibel (1976)
* Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Tom Davis, James Downey, Al Franken, Lorne Michaels, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Bill Murray, Michael O'Donoghue, Herb Sargent, Tom Schiller, Rosie Shuster and Alan Zweibel (1977)
* Roger Beatty, Dick Clair, Tim Conway, Rick Hawkins, Robert Illes, Jenna McMahon, Gene Perret, Bill Richmond, Liz Sage, Larry Siegel, Franelle Silver, Ed Simmons and James R. Stein (1978)
* Alan Alda (1979)

* Complete list
* (1957–1969)
* (1970–1979)
* (1980–1989)
* (1990–1999)
* (2000–2009)
* (2010–2019)
* (2020–present)

* v
* t
* e

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (1980–1989)

* Buz Kohan (1980)
* Jerry Juhl, Chris Langham and David Odell (1981)
* Jeffrey Barron, Dick Blasucci, John Candy, Chris Cluess, Bob Dolman, Joe Flaherty, Paul Flaherty, Stuart Kreisman, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, John McAndrew, Brian McConnachie, Rick Moranis, Catherine O'Hara, Mert Rich, Michael Short, Doug Steckler and Dave Thomas (1982)
* Dick Blasucci, John Candy, Bob Dolman, Joe Flaherty, Paul Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, John McAndrew, Martin Short, Michael Short, Doug Steckler and Mary Charlotte Wilcox (1983)
* Chris Elliott, Sanford Frank, Ted Greenberg, David Letterman, Merrill Markoe, Jeff Martin, Gerard Mulligan, Steve O'Donnell, Joe Toplyn, Matt Wickline and David Yazbek (1984)
* Randy Cohen, Kevin Curran, Chris Elliott, Sandy Frank, Eddie Gorodetsky, Fred Graver, Larry Jacobson, David Letterman, Merrill Markoe, Jeff Martin, Gerard Mulligan, Joe Toplyn and Matt Wickline (1985)
* Randy Cohen, Kevin Curran, Chris Elliott, Sandy Frank, Fred Graver, Larry Jacobson, David Letterman, Merrill Markoe, Jeff Martin, Gerard Mulligan, Steve O'Donnell, Joe Toplyn and Matt Wickline (1986)
* Randy Cohen, Kevin Curran, Chris Elliott, Sandy Frank, Fred Graver, Larry Jacobson, David Letterman, Jeff Martin, Gerard Mulligan, Steve O'Donnell, Adam Resnick, Joe Toplyn and Matt Wickline (1987)
* Jackie Mason (1988)
* John Bowman, A. Whitney Brown, Greg Daniels, Tom Davis, James Downey, Al Franken, Shannon Gaughan, Jack Handey, Phil Hartman, George Meyer, Lorne Michaels, Mike Myers, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk, Herb Sargent, Tom Schiller, Robert Smigel, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner and Christine Zander (1989)

* Complete list
* (1957–1969)
* (1970–1979)
* (1980–1989)
* (1990–1999)
* (2000–2009)
* (2010–2019)
* (2020–present)

* v
* t
* e

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (2000–2009)

* Eddie Izzard (2000)
* Eric Drysdale, Jim Earl, Dan Goor, Charlie Grandy, J. R. Havlan, Tom Johnson, Kent Jones, Paul Mecurio, Chris Regan, Allison Silverman and Jon Stewart (2001)
* Doug Abeles, James Anderson, Max Brooks, James Downey, Tina Fey, Hugh Fink, Charlie Grandy, Jack Handey, Steve Higgins, Erik Kenward, Dennis McNicholas, Lorne Michaels, Matt Murray, Paula Pell, Matt Piedmont, Ken Scarborough, Michael Schur, Frank Sebastiano, T. Sean Shannon, Robert Smigel, Emily Spivey, Andrew Steele and Scott Wainio (2002)
* Rich Blomquist, Steve Bodow, Eric Drysdale, J. R. Havlan, Scott Jacobson, David Javerbaum, Tom Johnson, Ben Karlin, Rob Kutner, Chris Regan, Jason Reich, Jason Ross and Jon Stewart (2003)
* Rich Blomquist, Steve Bodow, Tim Carvell, Stephen Colbert, Eric Drysdale, J. R. Havlan, Scott Jacobson, David Javerbaum, Ben Karlin, Chris Regan, Jason Reich, Jason Ross and Jon Stewart (2004)
* Rich Blomquist, Steve Bodow, Tim Carvell, Stephen Colbert, Eric Drysdale, J. R. Havlan, Scott Jacobson, David Javerbaum, Ben Karlin, Rob Kutner, Chris Regan, Jason Reich, Jason Ross and Jon Stewart (2005)
* Rich Blomquist, Steve Bodow, Rachel Axler, Kevin Bleyer, Tim Carvell, Stephen Colbert, Eric Drysdale, J. R. Havlan, Scott Jacobson, David Javerbaum, Ben Karlin, Rob Kutner, Sam Means, Chris Regan, Jason Reich, Jason Ross and Jon Stewart (2006)
* Chris Albers, Jose Arroyo, Dan Cronin, Kevin Dorff, Dan Goor, Michael Gordon, Berkley Johnson, Brian Kiley, Michael Koman, Tim Harrod, Brian McCann, Guy Nicolucci, Conan O'Brien, Brian Stack, Mike Sweeney and Andrew Weinberg (2007)
* Bryan Adams, Michael Brumm, Stephen Colbert, Richard Dahm, Eric Drysdale, Rob Dubbin, Glenn Eichler, Peter Grosz, Peter Gwinn, Barry Julien, Laura Krafft, Jay Katsir, Frank Lesser, Tom Purcell, Meredith Scardino and Allison Silverman (2008)
* Rory Albanese, Rachel Axler, Kevin Bleyer, Rich Blomquist, Steve Bodow, Tim Carvell, Wyatt Cenac, J. R. Havlan, David Javerbaum, Elliott Kalan, Rob Kutner, Josh Lieb, Sam Means, John Oliver, Jason Ross and Jon Stewart (2009)

* Complete list
* (1957–1969)
* (1970–1979)
* (1980–1989)
* (1990–1999)
* (2000–2009)
* (2010–2019)
* (2020–present)

* v
* t
* e

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special

1971–1978|

* Bob Ellison and Marty Farrell (1971)
* Anne Howard Bailey (1972)
* Joseph Bologna and Renée Taylor (1973)
* Rosalyn Drexler, Ann Elder, Karyl Geld Miller, Robert Illes, Lorne Michaels, Richard Pryor, Jim Rusk, Herb Sargent, James R. Stein, Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, Rod Warren, and George Yanok (1974)
* John Bradford, Cy Coleman, and Robert Wells (1975)
* Ann Elder, Christopher Guest, Lorne Michaels, Earl Pomerantz, Jim Rusk, Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, Rod Warren, and George Yanok (1976)
* Buz Kohan and Ted Strauss (1977)
* Chevy Chase, Tom Davis, Al Franken, Charles Grodin, Lorne Michaels, Paul Simon, Lily Tomlin, and Alan Zweibel (1978)

2009–present|

* Chris Rock (2009)
* Dave Boone and Paul Greenberg (2010)
* Dave Boone, Matt Roberts, and Mo Rocca (2011)
* Louis C.K. (2012)
* Louis C.K. (2013)
* Sarah Silverman (2014)
* Louis C.K. (2015)
* Patton Oswalt (2016)
* Samantha Bee, Ashley Nicole Black, Pat Cassels, Eric Drysdale, Mathan Erhardt, Travon Free, Joe Grossman, Miles Kahn, Jo Miller, and Melinda Taub (2017)
* John Mulaney (2018)
* Hannah Gadsby (2019)
* Dave Chappelle (2020)
* Bo Burnham (2021)
* Jerrod Carmichael (2022)
* John Mulaney (2023)
* Alex Edelman (2024)

Between 1979–2008, writing specials competed alongside Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series.

* v
* t
* e

Kennedy Center Honorees (2020s)

2020|

* Debbie Allen
* Joan Baez
* Garth Brooks
* Midori
* Dick Van Dyke

2021|

* Justino Díaz
* Berry Gordy
* Lorne Michaels
* Bette Midler
* Joni Mitchell

2022|

* George Clooney
* Amy Grant
* Gladys Knight
* Tania León
* U2

2023|

* Billy Crystal
* Renée Fleming
* Barry Gibb
* Queen Latifah
* Dionne Warwick

2024|

* Francis Ford Coppola
* Grateful Dead
* Bonnie Raitt
* Arturo Sandoval
* The Apollo

* Complete list
* 1970s
* 1980s
* 1990s
* 2000s
* 2010s
* 2020s

* v
* t
* e

Mark Twain Prize winners

* Richard Pryor (1998)
* Jonathan Winters (1999)
* Carl Reiner (2000)
* Whoopi Goldberg (2001)
* Bob Newhart (2002)
* Lily Tomlin (2003)
* Lorne Michaels (2004)
* Steve Martin (2005)
* Neil Simon (2006)
* Billy Crystal (2007)
* George Carlin (2008)
* ~~Bill Cosby~~ (2009)
* Tina Fey (2010)
* Will Ferrell (2011)
* Ellen DeGeneres (2012)
* Carol Burnett (2013)
* Jay Leno (2014)
* Eddie Murphy (2015)
* Bill Murray (2016)
* David Letterman (2017)
* Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2018)
* Dave Chappelle (2019)
* Jon Stewart (2022)
* Adam Sandler (2023)
* Kevin Hart (2024)

* v
* t
* e

Norman Lear Achievement Award

* David L. Wolper (1990)
* Grant Tinker (1991)
* Fred de Cordova (1992)
* Don Hewitt (1993)
* Roy Huggins (1994)
* Leonard Goldenson (1995)
* Ted Turner (1996)
* Edgar Scherick (1997)
* Garry Marshall (1998)
* Ray Stark (1999)
* Aaron Spelling (2000)
* David E. Kelley (2001)
* Marcy Carsey / Caryn Mandabach / Tom Werner (2002)
* Bud Yorkin (2003)
* Lorne Michaels (2004)
* John Wells (2005)
* Norman Lear (2006)
* Jerry Bruckheimer (2007)
* Dick Wolf (2008)
* David Chase (2009)
* Mark Burnett (2010)
* Tom Hanks (2011)
* Don Mischer (2012)
* J. J. Abrams (2013)
* Chuck Lorre (2014)
* Mark Gordon (2015)
* Shonda Rhimes (2016)
* James L. Brooks (2017)
* Ryan Murphy (2018)
* Amy Sherman-Palladino (2019)
* Marta Kauffman (2020)
* not awarded (2021)
* Greg Berlanti (2022)
* Mindy Kaling (2023)

* v
* t
* e

TCA Career Achievement Award

* Grant Tinker (1985)
* Walter Cronkite (1986)
* Hill Street Blues (1987)
* David Brinkley (1988)
* Lucille Ball (1989)
* Jim Henson (1990)
* Brandon Tartikoff (1991)
* Johnny Carson (1992)
* Bob Hope (1993)
* Charles Kuralt (1994)
* Ted Turner (1995)
* Angela Lansbury (1996)
* Fred Rogers (1997)
* Roone Arledge (1998)
* Norman Lear (1999)
* Dick Van Dyke (2000)
* Sid Caesar (2001)
* ~~Bill Cosby~~ (2002)
* Carl Reiner (2003)
* Don Hewitt (2004)
* Bob Newhart (2005)
* Carol Burnett (2006)
* Mary Tyler Moore (2007)
* Lorne Michaels (2008)
* Betty White (2009)
* James Garner (2010)
* Oprah Winfrey (2011)
* David Letterman (2012)
* Barbara Walters (2013)
* James Burrows (2014)
* James L. Brooks (2015)
* Lily Tomlin (2016)
* Ken Burns (2017)
* Rita Moreno (2018)
* David Milch (2019)
* Alex Trebek (2020)
* Jean Smart (2021)
* Ted Danson / Steve Martin (2022)
* Mel Brooks (2023)
* Andre Braugher (2024)

* v
* t
* e

Television Hall of Fame Class of 1999

* Herbert Brodkin
* Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer
* Lorne Michaels
* Carl Reiner
* Fred Rogers
* Fred Silverman
* Ethel Winant

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* 2
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Czech Republic
* Spain
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Israel

Artists|

* MusicBrainz
* Emmy Awards

People|

* Deutsche Biographie

Other|

* SNAC

*[m.]: married
*[div.]: divorced
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