Samantha Bee is pushing back against Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels after he took a subtle dig at her in his upcoming memoir, Lorne: 

The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live. The former Daily Show correspondent and host of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee recently addressed Michaels’ 

remarks during an appearance on The Daily Beast Podcast, making it clear that she has no regrets about her approach to political comedy.

Michaels’ Comments and the Controversy Over Trump’s SNL Appearance

In his biography, written by journalist Susan Morrison, Michaels is quoted discussing the political stance of SNL and the challenges of maintaining a neutral position in comedy. 

According to Morrison, Michaels made his remarks just two weeks before Donald Trump’s election in November 2016—

a year after Trump had hosted SNL in a controversial episode that sparked backlash from both viewers and members of the show’s own cast and crew.

Addressing the criticism over Trump’s hosting gig, Michaels defended SNL as a politically balanced show, stating, “It’s the hardest thing for me to explain to this generation that the show is nonpartisan.” He added, “We have our biases, we have our people we like better than others, but you can’t be Samantha Bee.”

Morrison clarified that Michaels’ reference to Bee was meant to describe her as “one-sided and strident,” suggesting that her approach to political comedy was more overtly partisan than what he wanted for SNL.

Samantha Bee’s Response: ‘I Am Strident, and Proudly So’

Bee, known for her sharp and unapologetic political commentary, did not take Michaels’ remark lightly. Responding to the comment, she sarcastically acknowledged that it wasn’t exactly flattering to be mentioned negatively in a biography that is expected to be widely read.

“It’s never exciting to be referenced in a negative way in someone else’s biography that’s gonna do really well,” Bee said.

She also challenged Michaels’ critique directly, calling out what she sees as a contradiction in his approach. “I mean, literally—imagine calling anyone strident when you have built a career out of elevating the loudest guy in the room,” Bee remarked.

The comedian didn’t deny Michaels’ characterization of her work, instead embracing it. “I get referenced in the book as being someone that [Michaels] does not want to emulate in any way,” she continued. “I concede the point. He’s right. I am one-sided. And I am strident, and proudly so.”

Bee’s Thoughts on SNL: A Show She Still Admires

Despite her criticism of Michaels’ remarks, Bee made it clear that she still holds Saturday Night Live in high regard. Reflecting on her early experiences watching the long-running sketch comedy series, she described it as a major influence on her comedic aspirations.

“As a young kid, it felt like an illicit pleasure,” she shared. “It’s just all in my consciousness and I love it. I love the performers, I love the writers, I love the writing.”

While she admitted she doesn’t tune in to SNL every week, she acknowledged its impact on comedy and expressed admiration for its history and continued presence in the entertainment world.

A Larger Conversation About Political Comedy

Michaels’ comments and Bee’s response highlight an ongoing debate about the role of political comedy in today’s media landscape. While SNL has long positioned itself as a show that satirizes both sides of the political spectrum, Bee’s work has been more explicitly partisan, making no effort to hide its progressive stance.

This contrast between a more traditional comedic institution like SNL and the rise of direct, politically charged satire—exemplified by shows like Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver—speaks to a broader shift in how audiences consume political humor.

As for Michaels’ memoir, Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live is set for release on February 18. Whether his reflections will spark further discussion—or more responses from other comedians—remains to be seen.

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