Actress and writer Tina Fey is rumored to be in talks to take over Saturday Night Live (SNL) when producer Lorne Michaels retires, according to the New York Post.
An unnamed source noted she is “being courted” for the position.
Another source told the Post, “I would be surprised if it wasn’t her.”
SNL is set to enter its 50th season in the fall of 2024. Michaels will turn 80 at that time and speculation of the show’s future has continued to be a hot topic in recent years.
Fey is one of the most popular women to gain fame on SNL. According to Biography.com, she joined the show as a writer in 1995 and eventually became the first female head writer in SNL history.
She also joined the cast as a comedian, co-hosting “Weekend Update.” Fey then wrote the movie “Mean Girls;” created her own show, “30 Rock;” and became a best-selling author after releasing her autobiography, “Bossypants.”
She has starred in multiple movies and is currently on tour with best friend and comedian Amy Poehler.
While Michaels stated in a New York Times interview last year, “I have no plans to retire,” ratings for the show have experienced difficulty.
In 2021, the 47th season began with a 35% drop in ratings, per the New York Post.
In August of 2022, cast member Kenan Thompson noted that rumors of the show ending may be true. He said, “There could be a lot of validity to that rumor, because 50’s a good year to stop at,” via Fox News.
But then, in November of 2022, ratings hit a season-high after star comedian Dave Chapelle hosted SNL, according to the Hollywood Reporter.