Tina Fey (30 Rock) is a Saturday Night Live alum, so it came as a shock to many fans to see headlines spread of Fey replacing Lorne Michaels (Wayne’s World) on the infamous New York City live sketch show. According to Comicbook.com, the rumor initially appeared in the New York Post stating, “citing an anonymous source that said Fey, an SNL alumnus herself, was seen by many as a top candidate to replace Michaels. “I would be surprised if it wasn’t her,” the source told the tabloid.”

In 1975, Michaels co-created the hit late night sketch comedy show with Dick Ebersol (NBC Sunday Night Football) and for the past 48 years, Michaels has been an executive producer of the show. The 50th season of the show is set to air in the fall of 2024, and rumors have recently begun to pop up online of Fey’s plans to step into Michael’s shoes following his retirement, which many think will be within the next year. An anonymous post in the New York Post stated, “I would be surprised if it wasn’t her. Seth Meyers has his own show. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg won’t come here. Judd Apatow passed [on the job] years ago. Amy Poehler has her own stuff. Bill Hader is directing a movie. Kate McKinnon is too hot.”

According to Comicbook.com, ET Canada stated a spokesperson for NBC claimed there was no truth to the rumors of Fey stepping in, but Kenan Thompson (Good Burger), a Saturday Night Live cast member since 2003, believes Michaels will be stepping down soon. In an interview with American radio host Charlamagne tha God (Hip-Hop POV) in 2022, Thompson revealed “I mean, there could be a lot of validity to that rumor because 50 is a good number to stop at, you know what I’m saying, that’s an incredible package. [Michaels] will be, you know, probably close to 80-years-old at that point and, you know, he’s the one that’s had his touch on the whole thing,” Via Comicbook.com. No plans by Michaels himself have been announced about when he plans to retire, but until then, let the countdown begin to the historic 50th season of Saturday Night Live.