Live from Texas: SNL History Lands in Austin
Only in Texas can you find brisket tacos, cowboy hats, and now—wait for it—the career archive of Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels. That’s right, the man who gave us iconic characters like Wayne and Garth, and made "cowbell" an eternal punchline, has parked his comedy treasure chest deep in the heart of Texas at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas in Austin.
It’s a move that feels like SNL meets BBQ. You might ask, "Why Texas?" Sure, we’re far from the neon lights of New York City, but the Ransom Center is no rodeo clown when it comes to preserving cultural gold. This is the same institution that holds Robert De Niro’s Taxi Driver archives, the Mad Men scripts, and a collection of David O. Selznick memorabilia—because nothing says "Texas-sized" like preserving Gone With the Wind.
The Michaels archive is a comedy nerd’s dream. Rehearsal notes? Check. Drafts of legendary sketches? Double check. Personal correspondence from the guy who kept us laughing through everything from disco to TikTok? Absolutely. And starting in September, they’ll be showing it all off with an exhibit, Live from New York! The Making of Lorne Michaels.
So, saddle up, Texans! Whether you're a lifelong fan of the Coneheads or just here to see Eddie Murphy’s Gumby in all its glory, Austin is about to become the most unexpected pilgrimage site for comedy aficionados. And if this doesn’t inspire the Ransom Center to host an SNL-themed two-stepping night, well, that’s a missed opportunity bigger than Texas.
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