Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video

Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video
Name	Broadway Video
Founder	Lorne Michaels
Founded	1978
Headquarters	New York City
Key people	Lorne Michaels, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Molly Shannon
Products	Television production, film production, digital content
Website	Broadway Video

Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video is an American production company founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City. The company developed and produced influential television programs, films, and digital content, becoming closely associated with Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, and numerous comedy and variety projects. Broadway Video has partnered with major studios and networks including NBC, Universal Pictures, Hulu, Netflix, and Paramount Pictures to develop talent and intellectual property.

History

Broadway Video was established during the late 1970s alongside the rise of Saturday Night Live and the continued careers of performers associated with Second City, The National Lampoon, The Royal Canadian Air Farce, and early SNL alumni. Early collaborations linked the company to producers and performers from SNL Writers' Room, Saturday Night Live Band, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and Dan Aykroyd. In the 1980s Broadway Video expanded into home video and music production, engaging with companies such as Warner Bros., Columbia Pictures, Island Records, and Geffen Records. The firm adapted across the 1990s and 2000s amid changes in distribution led by MTV Networks, ViacomCBS, and the rise of digital streaming platforms like Hulu and Netflix.

Productions and Notable Shows

Broadway Video’s portfolio includes long-running television series, sketch comedy, late-night programming, and feature films. The company produced or co-produced series involving Saturday Night Live alumni such as Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, and Kristen Wiig. Notable projects include collaborations on The Kids in the Hall, 30 Rock, The Dana Carvey Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and specials featuring Paul Simon, David Bowie, Linda Ronstadt, and Bob Dylan. Broadway Video has overseen film productions tied to performers from Saturday Night Live, including titles associated with various SNL cast members and projects distributed by Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, MGM, and 20th Century Fox.

Television and Film Partnerships

The company established enduring partnerships with major networks and studios. Broadway Video’s relationships have included NBCUniversal, Universal Television, Paramount Network, HBO, Showtime, and streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Studios. These alliances facilitated co-productions with producers and showrunners from SNL Writers' Room, comedy writers, and directors from Woody Allen, Christopher Guest, and Paul Feig circles. Broadway Video also licensed archival material to institutions like the Paley Center for Media and worked with distributors including Warner Bros. Television Distribution and Sony Pictures Television.

Business Structure and Leadership

Operating as a privately held company, Broadway Video centralized creative development, production, and distribution functions while forming subsidiaries for home video, music, and digital content. Executive leadership has included producers and executives who previously worked with Saturday Night Live, Late Night, and other variety programming, and the company has collaborated with talent agencies such as CAA and WME. Broadway Video’s staffing and leadership have often drawn from alumni networks tied to Second City Training Center, The Groundlings, Upright Citizens Brigade, and major comedy schools and institutions, enabling a pipeline between live comedy venues and television production.

Awards and Recognition

Projects affiliated with Broadway Video and its collaborators have received numerous honors from organizations including the Primetime Emmy Awards, Peabody Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Writers Guild of America Awards. Individual performers and writers connected to the company have been recognized by the Tony Awards, Academy Awards, BAFTA, and guilds such as the Directors Guild of America and Producers Guild of America. Broadway Video’s archival and preservation efforts have been cited by media historians and institutions such as the Library of Congress for cultural significance related to late-20th-century American comedy.

Philanthropy and Industry Impact

Broadway Video has engaged in philanthropic and industry-shaping activities by supporting initiatives tied to performing arts education, archival preservation, and talent development programs at institutions like The Juilliard School, Tisch School of the Arts, Columbia University School of the Arts, and regional theaters. The company’s model influenced business practices in television production, talent incubation, and franchise development used by entities such as other production companies and media conglomerates including Viacom, WarnerMedia, and Disney. Its alumni network continues to feed major productions across Hollywood and international markets, contributing to the careers of prominent comedians, writers, and directors.

Category:Television production companies of the United States Category:Companies based in New York City