MICHAELS IN ‘LIVE’ RETURN

Lorne Michaels, the creator and original producer of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” has returned as executive producer of the satirical late-night series he headed from 1975 to 1980, NBC said Thursday. The 90-minute program will start its 11th season on Nov. 9.

NBC’s announcement ended speculation on whether the Canadian-born writer-producer would return to the series, as has been rumored for several months. But it left open the possibility that cast changes may be made with Michaels now back at the helm of the program.

A network spokeswoman in New York said that NBC later will make public the details of this fall’s version of “Saturday Night Live,” “including the cast, writing staff and production personnel.” She said the show would continue to orignate from New York.

The program’s previous producer was Dick Ebersol, who resigned from the program last spring. Michaels, who left SNL to work in film and on other television projects, was quoted by NBC as saying, “It’s nice to be back.”

Brandon Tartikoff, president of NBC Entertainment, in a prepared statement, said he was “tremendously excited” that Michaels was returning to the program, and added: “We are fortunate that Lorne was able to rearrange his other commitments to take on this exciting challenge.”

Michaels, a six-time Emmy Award winner, won three of those Emmys while with “Saturday Night Live.”