Molly Shannon Backs Kenan Thompson to Take Over As ‘SNL’ Showrunner

Actor Molly Shannon has backed the concept of Kenan Thompson someday taking on from longtime “Saturday Evening Stay” showrunner Lorne Michaels, regardless of calling Michaels “irreplaceable.”

Requested what she thought of Thompson probably taking the reins on the NBC present in an interview with Individuals, Shannon, who was a solid member between 1995 and 2001, mentioned it was “a wonderful thought.”

“I like this concept. He is the best — I am keen on Kenan,” she mentioned, including that he was “so proficient.”

Thompson joined “SNL” in 2003 and is the longest-tenured solid member in its historical past, notching his twenty second season this 12 months.

Rumors of Michaels’ retirement grew as “SNL” neared its fiftieth anniversary earlier this 12 months, fueling hypothesis over who might take over as showrunner.

For Shannon, it appears the present won’t ever be the identical, irrespective of who is available in.

“There is not any one who might substitute him. It could not be the identical present,” Shannon informed Individuals of Michaels, who created the sketch comedy present in 1975. “He is only a one-of-a-kind genius. Good. Sensible.”

“It is his present, his imaginative and prescient,” she added.

In September 2024, Michaels, 80, addressed hypothesis over his future, telling The Hollywood Reporter he had no “speedy” plans to retire.

“I simply know that that is form of what I do and so long as I can hold doing it, I will hold doing it,” he mentioned on the time.

Earlier this 12 months, Thompson hinted that followers of “SNL” might see a serious shakeup when the present returns following the wrap of its fiftieth season.

“Particularly this 12 months the place it seems like there’s perhaps, probably, quite a lot of change subsequent 12 months,” he informed Web page Six. “You need everybody to remain perpetually, understanding that individuals could also be making selections this summer season.”

He added that he had but to signal a brand new contract for the approaching season however expressed curiosity in returning.

“You simply by no means know what the longer term holds,” he mentioned. “I do not wish to be in the way in which of another person.”

“I do not wish to be the stale outdated man using the identical outdated factor. That does not actually occur that a lot at ‘SNL’ however there is not any ensures,” he added.

Representatives for “SNL” and Thompson didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Enterprise Insider.