Comedy legendLorne Michaels has been nominated for over 100 Emmys in his career spanning over five decades, primarily for his work as the creator and producer ofSaturday Night Live. Michaels is responsible for assembling outstanding casts, spawning the careers of many of the world’s most famous and iconic comedians. Thebest SNL skits of all timecan all be somewhat credited to the creative genius of Lorne Michaels, and he was honored once again at the 2024 Emmys with a nomination for Outstanding Scripted Variety Series.
Lorne Michaels began his career in 1968, years beforeSaturday Night Livestarted. With its first episodes airing in the late 1970s, then calledNBC’s Saturday Night, the sketch comedy show has had a vital place in pop culture since. While every fan of the series has their favorite cast or favorite year,Saturday Night Light’sbest seasonshave spread across all five decades of its runtime, proving Michaels' enduring ability to assemble great talent.
Lorne Michaels Has Been Nominated For 107 Emmys Since 1969
SNL’s Creator Has Been Nominated For An Absurd Number Of Emmys
Lorne Michaels has received 107 Emmy nominations, a ridiculous number for one person to have. In fact,in his 55-year career, it’s far less common that Michaelshasn’tbeen nominated, and he’s currently on a 25-year streak of having his name among the nominees.Saturday Night Liveas a whole holds several Emmys records, including the most nominations for a Variety Series, for which it holds a whopping 306, and the most nominations for the Outstanding Variety Series category, where it has 19.
Lorne Michaels' first Emmy nomination wasn’t forSaturday Night Live. In fact, he was nominated five times before the hit show began.
Most importantly,Saturday Night Livehas the most Emmy wins for any television program ever, with 92, a record it continues to pile on nearly every year. Comparing it to other iconic shows,The Simpsonsholds 35, andGame of Throneshas 59. Lorne Michaels' individual award nomination count is an astounding number. In fact,he alone has more nominations than the entirety ofThe Simpsons, one ofthe best TV shows of all time. Comparing it with another show that’s been on air for ages should speak toSNL’slasting impact.
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How Many Emmys Lorne Michaels Has Actually Won
Lorne Michaels' Win Rate Is Less Than 20%
As of 2024,Lorne Michaels has won an insane 21 Emmys and collected one special honor, which was his addition to the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1999. While 21 Emmy wins is undoubtedly an incredible accomplishment, it’s surprisingly less than 20% of his nominations. He’s won three awards in the 2020s despite several more nominations. He’s also had prolonged droughts with little success, generally tying to some ofSaturday Night Live’slull periods.
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels, premiering in 1975. It features comedy sketches parodying contemporary culture and politics, performed by a rotating cast. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest and includes musical performances.
