There’s a new frontrunner for who could replace Saturday Night Live showrunner Lorne Michaels, the 81-year-old creator and executive producer for the long-running NBC program. While Michaels still has no plans on leaving the variety show he created and shepherded since 1975, much has been said over the last three years on who could possibly take over his role on SNL if and when he retires. Several names have consistently come out at the top of the list, notably Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, and Colin Jost. However, a writer, producer, and comedian who has been by Michaels’ side for decades has been identified as a potential successor, amid the release of the biographical documentary Lorne on April 17.
Bets have Steve Higgins beating Tina Fey and Seth Meyers as Saturday Night Live successor
Steve Higgins is predicted to take over Lorne Michaels as the head of Saturday Night Live, according to a bet on Kalshi (as of April 27). Higgins, 62, has been a writer for the show since 1995 and a producer for the show since 1996. He’s also the announcer for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The prediction market has Higgins with a 45% chance to succeed Michaels as SNL’s showrunner, over the 31% chance for Tina Fey and 18% chance for Colin Jost. Close behind them are Kenan Thompson at 17% and Seth Meyers at 16%, while Maya Rudolph and Mike Shoemaker have an outside shot at 5% and 4%, respectively. Bill Hader and Judd Apatow are included as possible options but have not received any bets. (Ostensibly, the reason why these percentages don’t add up to 100% is because it’s possible that more than one person could replace Michaels.)
Looking at the history of the bet, which started at the beginning of March 2025, Tina Fey and Seth Meyers were by far and away in the lead. It wasn’t until the star of April 2026 that the percentages flipped and Higgins became the frontrunner above the both of them. It’s unclear why he has suddenly risen in the rankings, but his name has been floated for a while.
In a February 2025 biography of Michaels called “Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live” by Susan Morrison, Higgins is someone the showrunner trusts. This is suggested by several commenters in a discussion on Michael’s succession on the r/LiveFromNewYork Reddit who have read the book. One says that “in Morrison’s behind the scenes description, Higgins seems like Lorne’s closest and most trusted right hand, and the producer who Lorne dispatches to handle difficult moments/performers already.” Other describe him as a “major candidate” alongside Fey and Meyers, while another says Morrison believes the current assistant executive producers for the show, including Higgins, Erik Kenward, and Erin Doyle, will take over after Michaels retires.
This is a surprise given that Michaels has given his endorsement for Tina Fey in the past. During a red carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight, the showrunner said that Fey “could easily” be his replacement, describing her as “brilliant” and a strong candidate, though he has also considered other talent on SNL too. In response to his comments, Fey said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that “it was nice of him to say that, and I love him very much.” However, she neither confirmed nor denied whether she was interested in taking over in the first place.
Fey emerged as an early favorite as SNL head due to her past experience with the show, her ability to secure talent, and NBC’s overall trust with her. That said, the comedian has been busy with many projects of her own, whether it’s acting in Only Murders in the Building, hosting major award shows, and executive producing The Four Seasons on Netflix (she’s also acts and writes on the show). So she might not be eager to be a showrunner for SNL.
