Toronto’s Lorne Michaels stays mum on rumoured ‘SNL’ cast departures

TORONTO – Canadian “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels showed a sense of humour as he dodged a question about impending cast changes on Wednesday.

Rumour has it that stars Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis and Andy Samberg could all end their stints on the long-running sketch series when the current season ends on May 19, but Michaels said he didn’t know yet what would happen.

“I could (comment) except I’m not really certain myself,” the 67-year-old Toronto native said in a conference call Wednesday.

“I know there will be some (changes), but it’s just sort of the nature of the way we work that no one really talks about it until the season’s done. Needless to say, I’d like everybody to stay.”

He waited a beat, before quipping: “Did that avoid that question successfully?”

Joined on the call by this Saturday’s host, two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Eli Manning, Michaels did nevertheless acknowledge that he would spend the summer scouring dark comedy clubs for possible additions to the venerable show’s cast.

“I think the show has always been about bringing new people in,” Michaels said.

For now, the only newbie is Manning.

The 31-year-old says he and his brother, newly signed Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, grew up watching “SNL.”

“I am a fan and … that style of humour, I appreciate it,” said Manning, who was then pressed on his all-time favourite skit.

“Chris Farley and Patrick Swayze doing the dancing, the Chippendales — that’s always a classic,” he replied.

Manning’s elder brother also hosted the show back in 2007, and was one of two former “SNL” hosts — along with NFL analyst John Madden — who phoned the New York Giants quarterback to offer advice.

Mainly, the message delivered was that Manning should trust the writers and try to have fun.

“I think the good thing about ‘Saturday Night Live’ is you can kind of come in and maybe express a different side that people don’t see,” Manning said.

“I think that’s one thing I’d say about Peyton and I, we don’t mind making fun of (ourselves) or letting jokes be at our own expense.”

It was that irreverence that appealed to Michaels, who says he tried to persuade Manning to host the show for years.

“I think he’s both charming and radiates a certain kind of intelligence,” said Michaels, who also hinted that musical guest Rihanna could take part in a skit.

“You sort of believe that he doesn’t take himself that seriously. I think he takes his work very seriously, but there’s a sort of central modesty to him and that plays well with what we do.

“If the host is spending a lot of time protecting an image, it’s exhausting. Particularly for us.”