Lorne Michaels
The Catalyst
Ideas with a spark, energy, range and the ability to start things.
Lorne Michaels reads as The Catalyst because for five decades he has done what catalysts do best, creating the conditions for other people's brilliance to ignite. Saturday Night Live was never about Michaels performing. It was about identifying raw, unconventional talent, building a live format that thrived on creative risk, and sustaining collective energy across generations of writers and performers. He launched more than a show. He launched careers and comedic movements.
“I had all the ingredients, I just didn't have the recipe. So between the first show and the second show, we changed.”
“Leadership in this particular field is the ability to change your mind and quite often change your mind. So if a better idea comes in from a first year writer, we'll go with that.”
“You just try and create a culture where everyone feels they're heard.”
The David Rubenstein Show: “Lorne Michaels”
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