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When you think of the Emmy Awards, your mind most likely goes to actors, directors, and TV shows. If you try to guess who holds the record for the most Emmy nominations in history, we doubt your first guess is Saturday Night Live’s Lorne Michaels. But it’s true! Michaels is the most nominated person in Emmy history.

Lorne Michaels in a tuxedo holding an Emmy statue at the 71st annual Emmy Awards.
Lorne Michaels | Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

How many Emmy nominations does Lorne Michaels have?

Michaels is best known for creating and producing the long-running comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live, but he’s also worked on several other shows. He was a producer for the Late Night series since 1993, produced Kids in the Hall from 1989 to 1995, and is also the current producer of The Tonight Show.

As for Emmy Awards, Michaels has received a whopping of 95 Emmy nominations. He’s taken home 18 wins. He was also inducted into the Emmy Hall of Fame in 1999. Unsurprisingly, Saturday Night Live is the television series with the most nominations as well. The comedy sketch show has a total of 306 nominations.

Which Emmy Awards has Lorne Michaels won?

Most of Michaels’ nominations are in relation to Saturday Night Live. However, he also has nominations for his work on 30 Rock and The Paul Simon Special. Here’s the complete list of Michael’s wins:

  • Outstanding Variety Sketch Series, 2020 – Saturday Night Live
  • Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction Or Reality Series, 2019 – Saturday Night Live 
  • Outstanding Variety Sketch Series, 2019 – Saturday Night Live
  • Outstanding Variety Sketch Series, 2018 – Saturday Night Live
  • Outstanding Variety Sketch Series, 2017 – Saturday Night Live
  • Outstanding Variety Special, 2015 – Saturday Night Live
  • Outstanding Comedy Series, 2009 – 30 Rock
  • Outstanding Comedy Series, 2008 – 30 Rock
  • Outstanding Comedy Series, 2007 – 30 Rock
  • Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Program, 2002 – Saturday Night Live
  • Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Special, 2000 – Saturday Night Live: The 25th Anniversary Special
  • Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series, 1993 – Saturday Night Live
  • Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program, 1989 – Saturday Night Live
  • Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special, 1978 – The Paul Simon Special
  • Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series, 1977 – NBC’s Saturday Night
  • Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series, 1976 – NBC’s Saturday Night
  • Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series, 1976 – NBC’s Saturday Night
  • Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special, 1976 – Lily Tomlin
  • Outstanding Writing in Comedy-Variety, Variety or Music, 1974 – Lily
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Is the ‘SNL’ producer nominated for any Emmys in 2021?

This year was no different, with Michaels getting two nominations for Saturday Night Live.  One of those is for his writing on the show, and the other is for his role as executive producer. The show itself is getting 21 nominations for various categories ranging from Outstanding Production Design for a Variety, Reality, or Competition Series to Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.

If you’re interested in watching the Emmy Awards live, you’re in luck. The event will be aired on CBS starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and streaming on Paramount+.

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