Lorne Michaels, the legendary producer behind Saturday Night Live, 

seems to be completely engrossed in the ongoing legal drama between It Ends With Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. 

According to former SNL cast member Dana Carvey, Michaels has been fixated on the case, 

frequently texting him about new developments instead of discussing the recent SNL 50th anniversary special.

Michaels’ Unwavering Interest in the Legal Feud

On the latest episode of the Fly on the Wall podcast, which Carvey co-hosts with fellow SNL alum David Spade, 

the 69-year-old comedian revealed that Michaels has been constantly bringing up the Lively-Baldoni dispute in their private conversations. 

Carvey shared that after the SNL50 celebration, he sent Michaels a congratulatory message, expressing regret that he couldn’t attend the event due to illness. Instead of responding with gratitude or discussing the show’s success, Michaels steered the conversation toward the high-profile legal fight.

“Instead of talking about the show, he just goes, ‘Baldoni will now countersue. I think that Lively will probably get a new attorney,’” Carvey recalled.

Even when Carvey attempted to shift the focus to SNL50 highlights, such as Tom Hanks’ performance and Steve Martin’s opening monologue, Michaels remained fixated on the Lively-Baldoni case. He allegedly responded with yet another comment about the legal battle, speculating about the financial implications for Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds.

“I don’t know where Ryan Reynolds is on this, but certainly they have deep pockets,” Michaels reportedly said.

Reynolds’ SNL50 Joke Adds to the Drama

The legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni took center stage during SNL50, thanks to a subtle but pointed joke from Reynolds. During a segment where Tina Fey and Amy Poehler took questions from the audience, Poehler asked Reynolds how he was doing. His response—”Great. Why? What have you heard?”—immediately sparked laughter and speculation, as it was widely interpreted as a reference to his wife’s legal battle.

Carvey noted that the drama surrounding Lively and Baldoni was a dominant topic behind the scenes at the anniversary special, saying, “The Baldoni-Lively extravaganza was all over the show.”

Behind the Scenes: Who Came Up With the Joke?

In the days following SNL50, controversy arose over the origins of Reynolds’ joke. Wally Feresten, SNL’s longtime cue card handler, claimed on an Australian radio show that Reynolds himself came up with the line. According to Feresten, the actor initially had a different joke but suggested the final version during rehearsals.

“That was his idea,” Feresten said. “We wouldn’t want to do anything too controversial unless they were in on it.”

However, sources close to SNL quickly refuted Feresten’s statement. A representative for NBC dismissed his claims as “not true,” while an insider insisted that the opening joke was always part of the script and only the follow-up line was altered in rehearsal. Another source added, “Wally is not part of the writing process or part of any of those decisions.”

Spade found humor in the situation, suggesting that Feresten might have been unwittingly drawn into the drama. “He’s so sweet and naive; they definitely wanna get one answer from him,” he joked.

Carvey Invites Baldoni to Tell His Side

As the legal feud continues to unfold, Carvey extended an invitation to Baldoni to appear on Fly on the Wall and share his side of the story.

“I’ll say this right now. If he wants to come on and tell his story, I would love that,” the Wayne’s World star said.

Latest Developments in the Legal Battle

Lively initially sued Baldoni in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. Baldoni has firmly denied all allegations, countering with a lawsuit of his own. He is suing Lively and Reynolds for defamation and extortion, claims that their legal team has rejected.

Earlier this week, Lively amended her lawsuit, alleging that she “was not alone in raising allegations of on-set misconduct.” Her attorneys also added a new defamation claim against Baldoni.

Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, was quick to dismiss the updated complaint, calling it “filled with unsubstantial hearsay of unnamed persons who are clearly no longer willing to come forward or publicly support her claims.”

The Obsession Continues

While the legal battle rages on in court, it appears to be just as captivating for those outside the case—especially Lorne Michaels. With the SNL creator unable to stop talking about it, it’s clear that the Lively-Baldoni feud has become one of Hollywood’s most talked-about controversies, both on and off the comedy stage.

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