When Donald Trump was asked to host “Saturday Night Live” shortly after announcing his presidential campaign in 2015, it caused uproar among the show’s staff, as revealed in a new book titled “Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live” by Susan Morrison. Tim Robinson, a writer at the time, was quoted saying that series creator Lorne Michaels had “lost his mind” by inviting Trump to host the show.
“Lorne has lost his mind and someone needs to shoot him in the back of the head,” Robinson reportedly said during Trump’s hosting stint, according to Morrison’s book.
Michaels, on the other hand, defended the decision by stating that the show is nonpartisan, despite having personal biases. He expressed that while there are preferences among the staff, they strive to maintain neutrality. However, the aftermath of Trump’s appearance left many staffers feeling responsible for his eventual election as President.
Interestingly, Michaels initially saw Trump’s candidacy as a joke and even wanted to soften a sketch that portrayed him in a negative light, allowing the then-candidate to showcase some charm. Little did he anticipate Trump’s victory in the presidential race.
In a more recent controversial move, “SNL” faced internal tensions again in 2021 when Elon Musk was invited to host. The billionaire, who has since become a confidante of Trump, reportedly made cast member Chloe Fineman cry during his time on the show. This incident added to the ongoing tensions within the “SNL” staff.
The book “Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live” is set to be released by Random House on Feb. 18, coinciding with the 50th-anniversary special of “SNL” airing on NBC. For a more detailed account of Trump’s hosting experience and the behind-the-scenes drama at “SNL,” readers can refer to The Daily Beast’s article.
Overall, the revelations from the book shed light on the internal conflicts and controversies that have surrounded “Saturday Night Live” over the years, showcasing the complexities of producing a popular and influential television show.
