The Unexpected Comedian Tipped to Take Over SNL From Lorne Michaels

So, everyone has been asking the same question for what feels like forever: who in the world is actually going to replace Lorne Michaels at Saturday Night Live? The guy is 81 and shows no real sign of stepping away anytime soon, but let’s be honest, with SNL having been on air since 1975, eventually, there will have to be new management. It’s the TV version of trying to pick a new Pope— but with way more comedy writers and definitely fewer hats.

For years, the Vegas odds (or at least the feverish speculation online) made it sound like Tina Fey or Seth Meyers had the job all but locked up. Colin Jost’s name floated around, too. But lately, there’s been a curveball—one that actually makes a ton of sense when you look at the details.

Steve Higgins: The Surprise Favorite

If you had your money on Tina Fey, don’t blame yourself—but you might want to check the latest prediction markets. According to Kalshi (sort of like the TV nerd’s Wall Street for betting on who’s next in line for big jobs), the new frontrunner for SNL overlord is none other than Steve Higgins. If you just said 'Wait, who?'—I get it. Higgins isn’t exactly a household name outside of diehard SNL fans, but behind the scenes, the guy has been integral to the show for decades.

Here’s the rundown of current prediction odds (as of April 27):

• Steve Higgins: 45%
• Tina Fey: 31%
• Colin Jost: 18%
• Kenan Thompson: 17%
• Seth Meyers: 16%
• Maya Rudolph: 5%
• Mike Shoemaker: 4%
• Bill Hader/Judd Apatow: They’re technically listed, but no one is betting on them.

(And if you’re wondering why those percentages add up to more than 100%—yep, you noticed correctly. Apparently, there’s a scenario where multiple people could get the gig, or prediction markets are just as weird as SNL’s last sketch of the night.)

How Did Higgins Jump to the Top?

Here’s where things get interesting: for a while, Fey and Meyers were leading this imaginary race—until just recently. At the start of April 2026, the numbers suddenly flipped, and Higgins jumped past both of them. Why? Nobody’s totally sure.

But context helps. Higgins has been a writer since 1995 and a producer since 1996 (that’s almost 30 seasons of sketches and cast feuds under his belt), and he already works hand-in-hand with Michaels during tough moments. He’s also the announcer over at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, if you’ve ever wondered why his voice sounds familiar at 11:35pm.

Susan Morrison’s biography (Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live, released February 2025) reinforces all this. According to some Redditors who’ve read it (they’re as obsessive and thorough as you’d expect), Morrison paints Higgins as Lorne’s right-hand man and the guy who’s always trusted during crises. That’s straight from people who spent pages discussing nothing but SNL succession rumors, so you know they're digging deep.

'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.'

A few others mentioned that if there’s a “passing of the torch,” Higgins is likely to be a major player, along with Fey and Meyers, or maybe as part of a group of current assistant executive producers like Erik Kenward and Erin Doyle.

The Tina Fey Factor (And Why She Might Not Take It)

Here’s the wildcard: Even though Lorne Michaels himself has gone on the record saying Tina Fey 'could easily' take his seat—at various red carpet interviews—Fey hasn’t actually said she wants the job. In her own words to THR, 'It was nice of him to say that, and I love him very much.' Read between the lines, and that’s about as noncommittal as it gets.

Fey obviously checks all the boxes: SNL history, experience running her own shows, NBC trust, etc. But she’s also absolutely buried in other gigs right now—from Only Murders in the Building to hosting award shows to running (and starring in) her own Netflix series The Four Seasons. If I had to bet, she probably isn’t dying to become SNL’s full-time head wrangler, as glamorous as that sounds.

So, What Happens Now?

The classic SNL drama: The guy with the low profile might be the one who gets called up. It doesn’t hurt when you’re already the behind-the-scenes adult in the room.

No official announcement has happened. Lorne Michaels is still running the show, like he always has, and will almost certainly outlive us all—or at least keep making Weekend Update puns for another season or two. But if you’re looking to place a bet right now, the crowd is leaning Higgins over Fey, with everyone else fading into dark horse territory.

So yeah, next time someone brings up SNL succession at a party, you’ll look like the know-it-all by mentioning Steve Higgins. What a world.