SNL Producer And Talent Chief Lindsay Shookus Exits After 20 Years

Popular late-night comedy show, Saturday Night Live’s producer Lindsay Shookus has left her longtime role after 20 years.

On Friday, the 42-year-old six-time Emmy Award winner took to Instagram to announce her departure from the show. “After 20 seasons at Saturday Night Live (and 415 live shows – I counted!), I have decided to trade in the wild late nightlife and move on from the show,” she wrote in a lengthy caption of a photo of herself on set. She continued by saying, “When I started in 2002, I was a baby from Buffalo, NY who didn’t know anything about the business, except that I so badly wanted to be somehow part of it. I found my place at SNL and I’ve spent the past two decades developing the most incredible friendships and memories alongside some truly brilliant and talented people.”

“What could be a greater gift from my time at the show than my sweet, funny girl who makes every day brighter,” Shookus wrote. According to Fox News, she had met Kevin Miller, her ex-husband and a former “SNL” producer, through her employment on the programme. They have a daughter named Maddie.

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Shookus informed that she was eager for her upcoming move and intended to spend more time with Maddie. Furthermore, she would keep working with her Women Work F#cking Hard organisation and the SNL Diversity Scholarship, which she founded in 2020 with the help of NBCUniversal, to put over 80 students through comedy programmes such as Second City, Groundlings, The PIT and UCB. Although she has left her position, she will remain as an advisor to the programme.

Shookus started at NBC’s SNL as an assistant to Marci Klein, a producer and head of the talent department, in 2002 after graduating from college. She then became an associate producer in 2008, a co-producer in 2010 and a producer in 2012. Moreover, she was the head of the show’s talent department, responsible for booking hosts and musical guests and scouting new cast members.

She thanked Lorne Michaels for this “once in a lifetime opportunity” in a heartwarming note, “Thank you for your support, encouragement and freedom to bring my voice to this legendary stage. Thank you to all the people that pushed, supported, taught, listened, valued and respected me throughout my crazy ride at the show. There are so many of you – too many to name – but please know that I will always be thankful for every one of you and never take for granted how special those moments and lessons have been. I don’t know exactly what else the future holds for me, but I’m a big believer in letting the universe unveil itself to you, and allowing that goodness in. It may not be perfectly written yet, but I know I’ve headed someplace good.”

To which Lorne Michaels replied, “Lindsay’s contributions to SNL over the past twenty years have been immeasurable. Her impact on the show, including her commitment and loyalty to the show’s cast and crew, will always be valued.”