Lorne

Reviews

“The best biography I have ever read of a living person.”—Lawrence O’Donnell, host of The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

“Indispensable, especially for ‘SNL’ completists. Morrison, an editor for the New Yorker, brings that magazine’s combination of access, reporting and fluid analysis to a subject who, despite his high visibility, has often played it close to the vest.”—Los Angeles Times

“The others, as they go tumbling in furious vulnerability across Morrison’s viewfinder, are fascinating . . . But somehow no one is quite as fascinating as Michaels himself, easing in his faintly reptilian way through showbiz vicissitudes and blinding storms of ego, nurturing brittle artists and disarming corporate thugs, ‘impervious to refusals,’ sending mixed signals, making strange noises of approval or demurral, getting richer and richer, living better and better, quietly arrogating to himself enormous cultural power without ever appearing to break a sweat.”—The Atlantic

“The kind of biographical monument usually consecrated to founding fathers, canonical authors and world-historical scientific geniuses . . . a tribute to Morrison’s journalistic chops.”—The New York Times

“New Yorker editor Susan Morrison turns her eye on one of the most recognizable yet enigmatic figures in comedy: Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels. Michaels’ legend is one that has grown primarily from the stories people tell about him rather than stories he’s told about himself; he’s famously hard to pin down for interviews. That’s why Morrison’s extensive access to Michaels is so notable, and why Lorne is such an exciting read: A lot of biographies claim to have “unprecedented access” to their subjects, but this time, it’s actually true.”—AV Club

“Lorne gives us a history of television in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, and a high school yearbook portrait of the people who made it happen over the years. We see Candice Bergen posing for a selfie with Leslie Jones, and Keith Richards at a Canadian heroin trial.”—Vogue

“Readers are treated to the Holy Grail for any journalist hoping to crack the show: a warts-and-all week in the life of ‘SNL,’ where Morrison gets to see the real process of putting the thing together . . . This isn’t the Lorne Michaels many of us know, because many of us don’t really know Lorne Michaels.”—Variety

“Offers an engrossing story about Michaels’ rise, celebrity, and philosophy of comedy . . . [Susan] Morrison does a fine job of revealing a leader who keeps his cards close to the vest, which is both a temperament and a survival tactic. A top-shelf showbiz biography.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Essential for SNL lovers and everyone interested in comedy and television, this is a deft and insightful look at one of the most enigmatic and influential figures in entertainment and the legacy he's built.”—Booklist, starred review

“An engrossing look at the man behind the curtain.”—Publishers Weekly Expand reviews