TV legend “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels has donated his career archive to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas. The collection includes behind-the-scenes notes, scripts, and photos from iconic characters and sketches featuring comedians like Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Tina Fey.
The donation comes as “SNL” celebrates its 50th season with a live anniversary special on February 16. Michaels’ archive documents his career in TV, including his early writing work for shows like “Laugh-In” and “Phyllis Diller Show.” The Ransom Center plans to open an exhibit in September featuring sketch drafts, video, photos, and artifacts that highlight the show’s impact on culture and politics.
The Harry Ransom Center is one of the top literary and humanities archives in the country, with collections from notable authors like J.M. Coetzee and David Mamet. Michaels’ donation is seen as a significant addition to the center’s collection, offering insight into the social, political, and cultural history of the past five decades.
“Lorne Michaels has kept us up late and laughing for 50 years,” said Ransom Center Director Stephen Enniss. “We are deeply grateful to him for entrusting this rich legacy to us.”
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/snl-show-creator-lorne-michaels-donates-archive-university-117718132