That Time Lorne Michaels Visited John Mulaney On His Netflix Set And Everyone Was ‘Too Scared’ To Tell Him He Was Standing In The Wrong Spot

Lorne Michaels, known for his extensive career spanning over half a century in the entertainment industry, is widely regarded as one of the industry’s most influential figures. His position on ‘Saturday Night Live’ gives him a significant level of respect that can lead to unusual situations, such as an incident reportedly occurring during John Mulaney’s Netflix show production. It appears that Michaels inadvertently found himself in a place he shouldn’t be, and no one felt comfortable enough to inform him about it, leading to an awkward situation.

For Netflix subscribers, the show “Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney” has turned into a soothing weekly watch for many viewers. However, an incident that Mulaney shared during a Q&A at the FYSEE LA screening series certainly doesn’t fit the bill of comforting moments. The event, involving Lorne Michaels, was sparked by a question from fellow SNL alum Fred Armisen, and Mulaney summed up his encounter with Michaels in just one word: chaotic.

Fred Armisen: Do you ever, when you’re doing the show, think, ‘Oh, what if Lorne is watching this?’

John Mulaney: Oh, yeah. He came once [to my show]. That was so scary.

If I were in Baby J’s position, I might have felt a bit anxious too. Knowing that my previous boss is watching my performance is one thing, but the thought of him being physically present in the building during production is quite intimidating. It’s even more so when John Mulaney mentions that before the show, his former producer stood on Mulaney’s mark, forcing an awkward conversation between them. This interaction is likely to make fans feel uncomfortable as well.

Were you aware that he was standing on my starting position just before we went live, about 20 seconds ago? He was on his phone at the time. I was walking off stage when I saw him standing there, and then he asked me if I wanted to chat with Tina Fey. I responded by telling him that he should move because everyone was too timid to do so.

At first glance, Lorne Michaels may appear rather calm, but he can unexpectedly come across as formidable, as anecdotes from people who have worked with him suggest. For example, Rob Klein, a former SNL writer, remembered displeasing Michaels years ago with the “Lamps” sketch he wrote. Similarly, Taran Killam, a former series cast member, shared that Michaels firmly discouraged him from continuing to reference his role in 12 Years a Slave during a comedy bit.

Lorne Michaels isn’t just defined by those stories we hear; he has a tender side too. For instance, Pete Davidson, a former Saturday Night Live cast member, has openly spoken about Michaels supporting him. Similarly, Tina Fey, who spent nearly a decade on SNL, highly respects Michaels. This is evident in her decision to seek his advice when considering Jon Hamm for the role in 30 Rock.

Indeed, it appears there are multiple facets to the renowned producer. Interestingly enough, when John Mulaney asked Michaels if he’d like to chat with Tina Fey, it was both ironic and endearing. It’s always best not to make assumptions about people based on first impressions, but I must admit that I wouldn’t have been the one encouraging Michaels to step aside from Mulaney’s position at first glance.

Every Wednesday at 10 p.m. Eastern Time, new episodes of “Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney” can be streamed on Netflix as part of their 2025 television lineup.

2025-05-20 19:48

That Time Lorne Michaels Visited John Mulaney On His Netflix Set And Everyone Was ‘Too Scared’ To Tell Him He Was Standing In The Wrong Spot

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