List of Saturday Night Live writers

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Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol's American live sketch comedy and variety show Saturday Night Live (abbreviated as SNL) has employed a large staff of writers during its thirty-seven season run. The staff generally consists of a large crew of writers who develop sketch ideas for the show and one or more head writers who help dictate which sketches will be developed further.

Seasons: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

[edit] Season 1 (1975-1976)

Michael O'Donoghue, the first SNL head writer.
Head writer(s)
Lorne Michaels & Michael O'Donoghue
Writing staff

[edit] Season 2 (1976-1977)

Head writer(s)
Michael O'Donoghue
Writing staff

[edit] Season 3 (1977-1978)

Head writer(s)
Michael O'Donoghue
Writing staff
  • Dan Aykroyd
  • Anne Beatts
  • Tom Davis[3]
  • Jim Downey[8]
  • Brian Doyle-Murray
  • Al Franken
  • Neil Levy
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Marilyn Suzanne Miller
  • Don Novello
  • Michael O'Donoghue
  • Herb Sargent
  • Tom Schiller
  • Rosie Shuster
  • Alan Zweibel

[edit] Season 4 (1978-1979)

Head writer(s)
Herb Sargent
Writing staff
  • Dan Aykroyd
  • Anne Beatts
  • Tom Davis[3]
  • Jim Downey[8]
  • Brian Doyle-Murray
  • Al Franken
  • Brian McConnachie
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Don Novello
  • Herb Sargent
  • Tom Schiller
  • Rosie Shuster
  • Walter Williams
  • Alan Zweibel

[edit] Season 5 (1979-1980)

Head writer(s)
Herb Sargent
Writing staff

[edit] Season 6 (1980-1981)

Head writer(s)
Mason Williams (episodes 1-12), Michael O'Donoghue (episode 13)
Writing staff

[edit] Season 7 (1981-1982)

Head writer(s)
Michael O'Donoghue (episodes 1-8), Bob Tischler (episodes 9-20)
Writing staff

[edit] Season 8 (1982-1983)

Head writer(s)
Bob Tischler & Andrew Smith
Writing staff

[edit] Season 9 (1983-1984)

Head writer(s)
Bob Tischler & Andrew Smith
Writing staff
  • Jim Belushi
  • Andy Breckman
  • Robin Duke
  • Adam Green
  • Mary Gross
  • Nate Herman
  • Tim Kazurinsky
  • Kevin Kelton
  • Andy Kurtzman
  • Michael McCarthy
  • Eddie Murphy
  • Pamela Norris
  • Margaret Oberman
  • Joe Piscopo
  • Andrew Smith
  • Bob Tischler
  • Eliot Wald
  • Herb Sargent

[edit] Season 10 (1984-1985)

Head writer(s)
Bob Tischler & Andrew Smith
Writing staff

[edit] Season 11 (1985-1986)

Head writer(s)
Al Franken & Tom Davis
Writing staff

[edit] Season 12 (1986-1987)

Head writer(s)
Jim Downey
Writing staff

[edit] Season 13 (1987-1988)

Head writer(s)
Jim Downey
Writing staff
  • A. Whitney Brown
  • Tom Davis[3]
  • Greg Daniels
  • Jim Downey
  • Al Franken
  • Jack Handey
  • Phil Hartman
  • George Meyer
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Conan O'Brien
  • Bob Odenkirk
  • Herb Sargent
  • Marc Shaiman
  • Rosie Shuster
  • Robert Smigel
  • Bonnie Turner
  • Terry Turner
  • Christine Zander

[edit] Season 14 (1988-1989)

Head writer(s)
Jim Downey
Writing staff
  • John Bowman
  • A. Whitney Brown
  • Tom Davis[3]
  • Gregory Daniels
  • Jim Downey
  • Al Franken
  • Shannon Gaughn
  • Jack Handey
  • Phil Hartman
  • George Meyer
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Mike Myers
  • Conan O'Brien
  • Bob Odenkirk
  • Herb Sargent
  • Tom Schiller
  • Marc Shaiman
  • Robert Smigel
  • Bonnie Turner
  • Terry Turner
  • Christine Zander

[edit] Season 15 (1989-1990)

Head writer(s)
Jim Downey
Writing staff
  • A. Whitney Brown
  • Tom Davis[3]
  • Gregory Daniels
  • Jim Downey
  • Al Franken
  • Jack Handey
  • Tom Hymes
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Mike Myers
  • Conan O'Brien
  • Bob Odenkirk
  • Adam Sandler
  • Herb Sargent
  • Tom Schiller
  • Rob Schneider
  • Robert Smigel
  • David Spade
  • Bonnie Turner
  • Terry Turner
  • Jon Vitti
  • Christine Zander

[edit] Season 16 (1990-1991)

Head writer(s)
Jim Downey
Writing staff
  • A. Whitney Brown
  • Tom Davis[3]
  • Jim Downey
  • Al Franken
  • Jack Handey
  • Daniel McGrath
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Conan O'Brien
  • Bob Odenkirk
  • Andrew Robin
  • Adam Sandler
  • Herb Sargent
  • Tom Schiller
  • Rob Schneider
  • Robert Smigel
  • David Spade
  • Bonnie Turner
  • Terry Turner
  • Christine Zander

[edit] Season 17 (1991-1992)

Head writer(s)
Jim Downey
Writing staff

[edit] Season 18 (1992-1993)

Head writer(s)
Jim Downey
Writing staff
  • Tom Davis[3]
  • Jim Downey
  • Al Franken
  • Jack Handey
  • Bruce Handy
  • Warren Hutcherson
  • Dawna Kaufmann
  • Steven Koren
  • David Mandel
  • Ian Maxtone-Graham
  • Tim Meadows
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Venessa Middleton
  • Marilyn Suzanne Miller
  • Bob Odenkirk
  • Glenn Rockowitz
  • Adam Sandler
  • Herb Sargent
  • Tom Schiller
  • Robert Smigel
  • David Spade
  • Christine Zander

[edit] Season 19 (1993-1994)

Head writer(s)
Jim Downey
Writing staff

[edit] Season 20 (1994-1995)

Head writer(s)
Jim Downey & Fred Wolf
Writing staff

[edit] Season 21 (1995-1996)

Head writer(s)
Steve Higgins & Fred Wolf
Writing staff
  • Ross Abrash
  • Andy Breckman
  • Cindy Caponera
  • Jim Downey
  • Hugh Fink
  • Tom Gianas
  • Peter Gualke
  • Jack Handey
  • Steve Higgins
  • Norm Hiscock
  • Tim Herlihy
  • Steven Koren
  • Adam McKay
  • Dennis McNicholas
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Erin Moroney
  • Lori Nasso
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Colin Quinn
  • Frank Sebastiano
  • Robert Smigel
  • Andrew Steele
  • Fred Wolf

[edit] Season 22 (1996-1997)

Adam McKay (right) the head writer from 1996-1999.
Head writer(s)
Steve Higgins & Adam McKay
Writing staff
  • Ross Abrash
  • David Breckman
  • Cindy Caponera
  • Robert Carlock
  • Stephen Colbert
  • Jim Downey
  • Hugh Fink
  • Tom Gianas
  • Steve Higgins
  • Norm Hiscock
  • Tim Herlihy
  • Adam McKay
  • Dennis McNicholas
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Lori Nasso
  • David Peidmont
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Colin Quinn
  • Frank Sebastiano
  • Robert Smigel
  • Andrew Steele
  • Scott Waino

[edit] Season 23 (1997-1998)

Head writer(s)
Adam McKay
Writing staff
  • Ross Abrash
  • Cindy Caponera
  • Robert Carlock
  • Jim Downey
  • Tina Fey
  • Hugh Fink
  • Tom Gianas
  • Steve Higgins
  • Tim Herlihy
  • Steven Koren
  • Adam McKay
  • Michael McCullers
  • Dennis McNicholas
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Lori Nasso
  • David Peidmont
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Michael Schur
  • Frank Sebastiano
  • Robert Smigel
  • Andrew Steele
  • Scott Waino

[edit] Season 24 (1998-1999)

Head writer(s)
Adam McKay[10]
Writing staff
  • Robert Carlock
  • Jerry Collins
  • Steven Cragg
  • Tony Daro
  • Tina Fey
  • Hugh Fink
  • Richard Francese
  • Matt Graham
  • Steve Higgins
  • Tim Herlihy
  • Ray James
  • Adam McKay
  • Dennis McNicholas
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Lori Nasso
  • David Peidmont
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Michael Schur
  • T. Sean Shannon
  • Robert Smigel
  • Andrew Steele
  • Scott Wainio

[edit] Season 25 (1999-2000)

Tina Fey the head writer from 1999-2006.
Head writer(s)
Tina Fey[10]
Writing staff
  • Kevin Brennan
  • Robert Carlock
  • Jerry Collins
  • Steven Cragg
  • Tony Daro
  • Ali Farahnakian
  • Tina Fey
  • Hugh Fink
  • Richard Francese
  • Steve Higgins
  • Tim Herlihy
  • Adam McKay
  • Dennis McNicholas
  • Lorne Michaels
  • David Peidmont
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • J. J. Philbin
  • Michael Schur
  • T. Sean Shannon
  • Andrew Steele
  • Scott Wainio

[edit] Season 26 (2000-2001)

Head writer(s)
Tina Fey & Dennis McNicholas[10]
Writing staff
  • James Anderson
  • Robert Carlock
  • Tony Daro
  • Jim Downey
  • Tina Fey
  • Hugh Fink
  • Melanie Graham
  • Steve Higgins
  • Erik Kenward
  • Adam McKay
  • Dennis McNicholas
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Jerry Minor
  • David Peidmont
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Jon Rosenfeld
  • Michael Schur
  • Frank Sebastiano
  • T. Sean Shannon
  • Robert Smigel
  • Andrew Steele
  • Scott Wainio

[edit] Season 27 (2001-2002)

Head writer(s)
Tina Fey & Dennis McNicholas
Writing staff
  • Doug Abeles
  • James Anderson
  • Max Brooks
  • Jim Downey
  • Tina Fey
  • Hugh Fink
  • Charlie Grandy
  • Jack Handey
  • Steve Higgins
  • Erik Kenward
  • Dennis McNicholas
  • Lorne Michaels
  • David Peidmont
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Ken Scarborough
  • Michael Schur
  • T. Sean Shannon
  • Robert Smigel
  • Barry Sobel
  • Andrew Steele
  • Scott Wainio

[edit] Season 28 (2002-2003)

Head writer(s)
Tina Fey & Dennis McNicholas
Writing staff
  • Doug Abeles
  • Leo Allen
  • James Anderson
  • Max Brooks
  • Tom Davis[3]
  • Jim Downey
  • James Eagan
  • Tina Fey
  • Charlie Grandy
  • Steve Higgins
  • Erik Kenward
  • Dennis McNicholas
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Corwin Moore
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Ken Scarborough
  • Michael Schur
  • Frank Sebastiano
  • T. Sean Shannon
  • Robert Smigel
  • Eric Slovin
  • Emily Spivey
  • Andrew Steele
  • Scott Wainio

[edit] Season 29 (2003-2004)

Head writer(s)
Tina Fey & Dennis McNicholas
Writing staff
  • Doug Abeles
  • Leo Allen
  • James Anderson
  • Jordan Black
  • Jim Downey
  • James Eagan
  • Tina Fey
  • Charlie Grandy
  • Steve Higgins
  • David Iserson
  • Joe Kelly
  • Erik Kenward
  • John Lutz
  • Dennis McNicholas
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Ken Scarborough
  • Michael Schur
  • Frank Sebastiano
  • T. Sean Shannon
  • Robert Smigel
  • J. B. Smoove
  • Eric Slovin
  • Emily Spivey
  • Andrew Steele
  • Jason Sudeikis
  • Rich Talarico

[edit] Season 30 (2004-2005)

Head writer(s)
Tina Fey & Andrew Steele
Writing staff
  • Doug Abeles
  • Leo Allen
  • James Anderson
  • Alex Baze[11]
  • Jim Downey
  • Tina Fey
  • Charlie Grandy
  • Steve Higgins
  • Joe Kelly
  • Erik Kenward
  • John Lutz
  • Matt Murray
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Lauren Pomerantz
  • Frank Sebastiano
  • T. Sean Shannon
  • Robert Smigel
  • J. B. Smoove
  • Eric Slovin
  • Emily Spivey
  • Andrew Steele
  • Jason Sudeikis
  • Rich Talarico

[edit] Season 31 (2005-2006)

Head writer(s)
Tina Fey, Seth Meyers[12] & Andrew Steele[13]
Writing staff
  • Doug Abeles
  • James Anderson
  • Alex Baze
  • Tina Fey
  • Charlie Grandy
  • Steve Higgins
  • Colin Jost
  • Erik Kenward
  • John Lutz
  • Matt Murray
  • Seth Meyers
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Andy Samberg (SNL Digital Shorts)
  • Akiva Schaffer
  • Frank Sebastiano
  • T. Sean Shannon
  • Robert Smigel
  • J. B. Smoove
  • Emily Spivey
  • Andrew Steele
  • Jorma Taccone
  • Bryan Tucker

[edit] Season 32 (2006-2007)

Seth Meyers the current head writer.
Head writer(s)
Seth Meyers, Paula Pell & Andrew Steele[14]
Writing staff
  • Doug Abeles
  • James Anderson
  • Alex Baze
  • Jim Downey
  • Will Forte (MacGruber)
  • Charlie Grandy
  • Steve Higgins
  • Colin Jost
  • Erik Kenward
  • John Lutz
  • Matt Murray
  • Seth Meyers
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Andy Samberg (SNL Digital Shorts)
  • Marika Sawyer
  • Akiva Schaffer
  • Robert Smigel
  • John Solomon
  • Emily Spivey
  • Andrew Steele
  • Jorma Taccone
  • Bryan Tucker

[edit] Season 33 (2007-2008)

Head writer(s)
Seth Meyers, Paula Pell, Andrew Steele
Writing staff
  • Doug Abeles
  • James Anderson
  • Alex Baze
  • Jim Downey
  • Will Forte (MacGruber)
  • Charlie Grandy
  • Steve Higgins
  • Colin Jost
  • Erik Kenward
  • Rob Klein
  • John Lutz
  • Seth Meyers
  • Lorne Michaels
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Simon Rich
  • Andy Samberg (SNL Digital Shorts)
  • Marika Sawyer
  • Akiva Schaffer
  • Robert Smigel
  • John Solomon
  • Emily Spivey
  • Andrew Steele
  • Kent Sublette
  • Jorma Taccone
  • Bryan Tucker

[edit] Season 34 (2008-2009)

Head writer(s)
Seth Meyers
Writing staff
  • Doug Abeles
  • James Anderson
  • Alex Baze
  • Jessica Conrad
  • Jim Downey
  • Will Forte (MacGruber)
  • Steve Higgins
  • Colin Jost
  • Erik Kenward
  • Rob Klein
  • John Lutz
  • Seth Meyers
  • Lorne Michaels
  • John Mulaney
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Simon Rich
  • Andy Samberg (SNL Digital Shorts)
  • Marika Sawyer
  • Akiva Schaffer
  • John Solomon
  • Emily Spivey
  • Kent Sublette
  • Jorma Taccone
  • Bryan Tucker

[edit] Season 35 (2009-2010)

Head writer(s)
Seth Meyers
Writing staff
  • Doug Abeles
  • James Anderson
  • Alex Baze
  • Jillian Bell
  • Hannibal Buress
  • Jessica Conrad
  • Matt Craig
  • Jim Downey
  • Will Forte (MacGruber)
  • Steve Higgins
  • Colin Jost
  • Erik Kenward
  • Jessi Klein
  • Rob Klein
  • John Lutz
  • Seth Meyers
  • Lorne Michaels
  • John Mulaney
  • Christine Nangle
  • Michael Patrick O'Brien
  • Ryan Perez
  • Simon Rich
  • Andy Samberg (SNL Digital Shorts)
  • Marika Sawyer
  • Akiva Schaffer
  • John Solomon
  • Emily Spivey
  • Kent Sublette
  • Jorma Taccone
  • Bryan Tucker

[edit] Season 36 (2010-2011)

Head writer(s)
Seth Meyers
Writing staff
  • Doug Abeles
  • James Anderson
  • Alex Baze
  • Heather Anne Campbell
  • Jessica Conrad
  • Matt Craig
  • Jim Downey
  • Tom Flanigan
  • Shelly Gossman
  • Steve Higgins
  • Colin Jost
  • Erik Kenward
  • Rob Klein
  • Jonathan Krisel
  • Seth Meyers
  • Lorne Michaels
  • John Mulaney
  • Christine Nangle
  • Michael Patrick O'Brien
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Simon Rich
  • Andy Samberg (SNL Digital Shorts)
  • Marika Sawyer
  • Akiva Schaffer
  • Sarah Schneider (Last few episodes)
  • John Solomon
  • Kent Sublette
  • Jorma Taccone (select SNL Digital Shorts, uncredited)
  • Bryan Tucker

[edit] Season 37 (2011-2012)

Head writer(s)[15]
Seth Meyers
Writing staff[15]
  • James Anderson
  • Alex Baze (Weekend Update)
  • Jessica Conrad
  • Jim Downey
  • Shelly Gossman
  • Steve Higgins
  • Colin Jost
  • Erik Kenward
  • Rob Klein
  • Seth Meyers
  • Lorne Michaels
  • John Mulaney
  • Christine Nangle
  • Michael Patrick O'Brien
  • Paula Pell[9]
  • Marika Sawyer
  • Sarah Schneider
  • John Solomon
  • Kent Sublette
  • Bryan Tucker

[edit] References

  1. ^ Shales & Miller 2002, p. 26.
  2. ^ Shales & Miller 2002, p. 23.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Stewart, Sara (September 23, 2010). "SNL Backstage". Saturday Night Live. NBC. http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/backstage/. Retrieved January 1, 2012. 
  4. ^ a b Shales & Miller 2002, p. 30.
  5. ^ a b Shales & Miller 2002, p. 53.
  6. ^ Shales & Miller 2002, p. 38.
  7. ^ Shales & Miller 2002, p. 29.
  8. ^ a b c d e Itzkoff, Dave (2008-03-03). "Can ‘SNL’ be sexy again?"The New York Times. http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/can_snl_be_sexy_again_L6dJYp9Ni7R3O7A570diWP. Retrieved 2008-03-13. 
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Longwell, Todd (December 2, 2006). "Pell : 'SNL' scribe plays for bigscreen laughs"Variety (magazine) (Reed Business Information). http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118046665?refCatId=13. Retrieved December 2, 2011. 
  10. ^ a b c Gay, Jason (May 3, 2001). "Meet Four-Eyed New Sex Symbol, ‘Weekend Update’ Anchor Tina Fey". The New York Observer. Archived from the original on January 9, 2012. http://www.webcitation.org/64ZT7kJuX. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  11. ^ "SNL Backstage". Saturday Night Live. NBC. December 17, 2011. Archived from the original on December 18, 2011. http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/backstage/. Retrieved December 18, 2011. 
  12. ^ Coyle, Jake (February 4, 2006). "Venerable 'SNL' undergoing another generational shift"The Arizona Republic (Gannett Company). http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/0204snl0204.html. Retrieved November 27, 2011. 
  13. ^ "SNL undergoing another generational shift"The Arizona Republic (Gannett Company). February 4, 2006. Archived from the original on January 9, 2012. http://www.webcitation.org/64ZJtdqOv. Retrieved January 9, 2012. 
  14. ^ "Seth Meyers will coanchor Weekend Update". tv.com). September 22, 2006. http://www.tv.com/story/6449.html. Retrieved November 3, 2007. 
  15. ^ a b "NBC.com > Saturday Night Live (About)". NBC. Archived from the original on January 4, 2012. http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/about/. Retrieved January 4, 2012. 
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