SNL stars Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Seth Meyers, and Bowen Yang roast Lorne Michaels at the Emmys

Some of Saturday Night Live's brightest stars teamed up at the 2024 Emmys in celebration of the show's forthcoming 50th anniversary — and they had some words for SNL's longtime head honcho Lorne Michaels.

Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Seth Meyers, and Bowen Yang joined forces to present the award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special, but before they announced the winner, they directly addressed Michaels, who sat grinning in the crowd at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Meyers began the segment with a straightforward introduction ("We're here tonight to present the award—") before being cut off by Rudolph, who said, "Seth, may I immediately interrupt? We heard something backstage that needs to be addressed." Wiig added, "Now, before later. We heard that our dear friend, our mentor Lorne Michaels, has been nominated for and lost the Emmy 85 times. He has never won."

Yang chimed in, "Never. Eighty-five times. It's just wrong, and we'd like to take the occasion to say a few words to him."

The current and former cast members negged the longtime executive producer for his winless Emmys run. "No, no, no, Lorne, look at me. Look at me. It's really hard to see if he's looking at me," Wiig said. "You are worthy, and you are not and have never been a loser, even though you have lost a lot."

Rudolph condescendingly added, "Lorne, now immediately look at me. Look at me and look at my mouth. Each and every one of those 85 times you lost, you were robbed. Do you hear me? Robbed!"

To add insult to injury, Yang mispronounced his boss' name. "Look at me, Lauren," he said before Meyers corrected him. "Lorne, look at me. It gets better. Just because SNL didn't work doesn't mean your next idea won't. Keep dreaming," Yang continued.

The group immediately changed their tune once Meyers interjected with some hard data. "Guys, that's very nice, but Lorne has won 21 Emmys, not to mention that SNL has won over 200," Meyers pointed out. "What? Two hundred?" Yang asked incredulously. "That's too much," Wiig added. "I can't believe you're complaining about this, Lorne. Not to be rude, but grow up," Rudolph said.

The award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special ultimately went to Alex Edelman for Just For Us, beating out Jacqueline Novak, Mike Birbiglia, John Early, and the writers of the Oscars to win the award.

Wiig performed on SNL from 2005 to 2012, while Rudolph served as a cast member from 2000 to 2007. In 2001, Meyers joined the cast in 2001 and went on to serve as the show's head writer and Weekend Update anchor from 2006-2014. Yang has starred on SNL since 2018, and is a nominee in Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series this year.

The segment began with a collage graphic featuring photos of some of SNL's most iconic performers, including Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Kate McKinnon, Dan Aykroyd, Andy Samberg, Molly Shannon, Will Ferrell, and Kenan Thompson.

SNL's cast and crew have teased the SNL 50 anniversary special for several years, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 16.

Additionally, Jason Reitman's SNL biopic Saturday Night, which dramatizes the 90 minutes leading up to the show's first broadcast in 1975, releases on the 49th anniversary of the first-ever SNL episode on Oct. 11.