Lorne Michaels and Saturday Night Live have been synonymous throughout the entire run of the staple NBC weekly late-night show, but with the prolific producer most likely nearing retirement at some point in the not-too-distant future, it's only natural for fans to want to know his thoughts about who might succeed him in the coveted comedy position. When asked whether Tina Fey would be a suitable replacement on the Emmys red carpet on Monday night, Michaels didn't mince words.

“It could easily be Tina Fey,” Michaels admitted when asked by Entertainment Tonight if he had “ever thought about” who might replace him behind the scenes of SNL one day.

Michael also mentioned how many other possible successors there are who worked at the show. “There are a lot of people who are there now who are also, you know.” However, Michaels' thoughts quickly returned back to Fey: “Tina’s brilliant and great at everything. She’s a very important person in my life.”

But it sounds like Michaels doesn't have any immediate plans to step down as of yet. He explained to Entertainment Tonight that he'll remain on the series to celebrate the fast-approaching 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, which will take place in February 2025.

“I will definitely be there for that and definitely be there until that, and sometime before that, we’ll figure out what we’re gonna do,” Michaels explained.

Tina Fey turned the Weekend Update into must-watch television during her reign at SNL. She then went on to create the beloved sitcom 30 Rock for NBC, and teen comedy film classic Mean Girls for Paramount, both of which were produced by Lorne Michaels. The pair clearly have a history of highly successful collaboration, so it's no surprise Michaels considers Fey a potential heir to the Saturday Night Live throne.