Let's Meet "SNL's" New Producer

 Chicago-born Jean Doumanian was appointed into the tough job of trying to fill Lorne Michaels' shoes as the new producer of NBC's Saturday Night Live.


Jean joined the staff as talent coordinator in early 1976, shortly after the show she had worked for in the same capacity, Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell, was cancelled by ABC cancelled in January of 1976.



Before that, Jean worked for Dick Cavett (who hosted SNL twice).


It was her job to find a new cast and new writing staff----and her budget, $350,000, was roughly a third of what Lorne worked with in the 1979-80 season.


In 1979, she produced and took a writer's credit for the NBC Special, Bob and Ray and Jane, Laraine, and Gilda.

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