Tina Fey might take over ‘Saturday Evening Dwell’ for Lorne Michaels: supply

The queen of “30 Rock” may very well be making her return to 30 Rock.

A supply instructed The Publish that Tina Fey is being courted to take over as government producer of “Saturday Evening Dwell” when creator and present government producer Lorne Michaels departs.

Up to now, Michaels, 78, has not formally introduced any intention to depart the weekly sketch comedy collection he created in 1975. In an interview with the New York Times final 12 months, the producer mentioned, “I’ve no plans to retire.”

A 12 months earlier than that, nonetheless, he left the door open to a brand new part, away from Studio 8H. 

Michaels told Gayle King on “CBS Mornings,” “I feel I’m dedicated to doing the present till its fiftieth anniversary, which is in three years … I’d wish to see that by way of and I’ve a sense that will be a very good time to depart.”

The fiftieth season of “Saturday Evening Dwell” is about to start out in fall 2024, when the omnipotent Michaels will flip 80 years outdated. That may even coincide with one other presidential election — when “SNL” reliably will get its greatest scores — probably that includes Donald Trump. 

Succession is on the desk.

The Publish has reached out to NBC for remark.

Fey, one of many best skills to ever come out of NBC, is taken into account by many within the trade to be the main candidate — some say the one candidate — to take the helm at “Saturday Evening Dwell.”

“I’d be shocked if it wasn’t her,” a supply mentioned. “Seth Meyers has his personal present. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg gained’t come right here. Judd Apatow handed [on the job] years in the past. Amy Poehler has her personal stuff. Invoice Hader is directing a film. Kate McKinnon is simply too sizzling.” 

On-line hypothesis that Fey, 53, would snag the “SNL” gig has been swirling for the previous few years. Meyers has additionally been advised as a chance. However a supply mentioned the Fey transfer is coming nearer to actuality. 

One other supply inside NBC mentioned the rising rumor isn’t true.

That hasn’t stopped the clubby, insular world of TV comedy from chattering away concerning the “30 Rock” creator taking the reins.

Many fellow showrunners imagine that the job is Fey’s if she needs it and that frequent collaborator Robert Carlock, who labored together with her on “30 Rock,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Girls5eva,” “Mr. Mayor” and different collection, would come alongside to “SNL,” too.

“She doesn’t transfer with out him,” a supply mentioned.

Since leaving her put up as head author and “Weekend Replace” co-anchor on “SNL” in 2006, Fey has solid a massively profitable profession as a creator and producer. 

The NBC sitcom “30 Rock,” which she created and starred in as Liz Lemon, gained 16 Emmy Awards. Her collection “Kimmy Schmidt” was an early streaming hit for Netflix. And the primary two seasons of her “Girls5eva” aired on NBCUniversal’s Peacock whereas the third will head over to Netflix. 

Fey additionally wrote the screenplay for the film “Imply Ladies,” which she made right into a Broadway musical, and has starred in a slew of different movies, together with “Date Evening” with Steve Carell and “Sisters” with Poehler.

Fey and Poehler, who had been in style Golden Globes co-hosts, are presently on their first reside comedy tour, which is about to finish in Portland, Oregon, on Jan. 13, 2024.

For Fey, who lives in Manhattan together with her husband, Jeff Richmond — a composer, producer and director — and their two daughters, the “SNL” job would additionally swimsuit her household life.

“I feel she’d do it,” a supply mentioned. “It will preserve the husband employed and the youngsters in class right here.”

Any official information of a “Saturday Evening Dwell” succession, nonetheless, would probably not come at a deliberate Radio Metropolis Music Corridor celebration for the present’s fiftieth anniversary subsequent summer season, due to Michaels’ recognized dislike of consideration.

“He’s Canadian,” a supply mentioned.