Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Dustin Rowles | News | August 22, 2025
Puck’s Matt Belloni spoke to Lorne Michaels in the first interview that the SNL head has given since SNL50, and he opened up with a few more details about the anniversary show, although there was nothing terrifically insightful. He mentioned that most people probably didn’t know that Chris Martin played piano for Bonnie Raitt during the concert; that despite the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show, he thinks that Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon’s shows are safe for the foreseeable future (or at least, through 2028), and that he’s not worried about the president having an effect on SNL.
“Whatever crimes Trump is committing, he’s doing it in broad daylight. There is absolutely nothing that the people who vote for him—or me—don’t know. You know what I mean?” Michaels said, adding that “his politics are obviously not my politics, but denouncing [him] doesn’t work.”
He also said that he doesn’t expect political comedy to be any tougher for SNL. “I don’t think anybody knows what Michael Che’s politics are, but they do think he’s funny,” he added.
Not that he’s letting on whether Michael Che will be back. Other than to say that James Austin Johnson will return next season as Trump, Belloni asked Michaels if there is any pressure to “reinvent” next season.
“Yeah, for sure. It’ll be announced in a week or so,” Michaels said to Belloni, who added that “Michaels promised me a significant shake-up, with several current castmembers expected to exit.”
Who among them are expected to leave? That’s still unclear, although Colin Jost, Michael Che, Andrew Dismukes, Heidi Gardner, and Devon Walker are among those I would personally most expect to exit. But then again, we’ve been saying that about Jost and Che for years (and Michael Che has threatened to leave a number of times), but still they sit in the “Update” chairs. Meanwhile, Kenan Thompson has been on the show for 22 seasons, and the thought of him leaving still feels vaguely remote.
In any respect, we’ll have the casting announcements, for those who are leaving and for the incoming players (auditions have been held) next week, as they roll in.
Source: Puck
