AUSTIN, Texas – If you hear laughter from the University of Texas at Austin’s archive center, here’s why.
Lorne Michaels, the creator and executive producer of “Saturday Night Live” (SNL), has donated his collection of writings to the university’s Harry Ransom Center, according to the Associated Press.
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The center released a statement on Wednesday about the donation, saying the collection will feature Michael’s entire career in television, from early writings through the almost 50-year history of “SNL.”
UT Austin students will be able to study the creative processes behind the popular comedy show with the most Emmy nominations in TV history.
“Lorne Michaels has kept us up late and laughing for 50 years,” said Ransom Center Director Stephen Enniss, “and I’m confident for years to come his archive will be studied by students and researchers looking for insight into the social, political and cultural history of our time. We are deeply grateful to him for entrusting this rich legacy to us.”
According to the Associated Press, students will also get to look through personal correspondence from Michaels.
The Harry Ransom Center said an annotated “Mean Girls” script and dailies from the hit film “Coneheads” will also be included.
The university will prepare a major exhibition later this year. The Harry Ransom Center said it will be available to the public from Sept. 20 to March 16, 2026.
“Live from New York and now home in Austin has a great ring to it,” said UT President Jay Hartzell. “Lorne Michaels changed entertainment and shaped generations of American culture, and we could not be more grateful and excited that he has selected UT and the Harry Ransom Center as the home to much of his life’s work. Having five decades of “Saturday Night Live” on our campus creates unique learning and research opportunities for future generations, and especially our students. It also enhances UT as a destination for the arts, consistent with our vision and goals. We welcome Lorne and ‘SNL’ to Texas.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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