Television legend and creator of Saturday Night Live (SNL), Lorne Michaels, has donated his extensive archive to the Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin. The donation includes materials from Michaels’ career spanning over 50 years, including his writing for Laugh-In and The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show, as well as nearly five decades of SNL.
The archive provides a unique insight into the creative and production processes behind SNL, which has had a lasting impact on American culture through its satirical comedy sketches and memorable performances. The show has launched the careers of numerous comedic performers, including Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Bill Murray.
The Harry Ransom Center is now home to a vast collection of materials documenting SNL’s production and cultural impact, as well as Michaels’ other works. The center will facilitate a deeper understanding of the significant contributions of Lorne Michaels and his collaborators through meticulous cataloging, conservation, teaching, and public programming.
A major exhibition, “Live From New York! The Making of Lorne Michaels,” is scheduled to open in Fall 2025, offering a preview into the remarkable collection. The exhibition will showcase key moments from SNL’s history, including behind-the-scenes rehearsal notes, Coneheads dailies, and annotated Mean Girls scripts.
The donation is expected to be fully available for research in January 2026, and the Harry Ransom Center will provide access to a wealth of materials documenting Michaels’ career. The university welcomes Lorne Michaels and SNL as part of its growing arts program, enhancing its reputation as a destination for arts and humanities education.
Source: https://news.utexas.edu/2025/01/15/lorne-michaels-entrusts-harry-ransom-center-with-historic-snl-collection