Entertainment

Big boss bars ‘Romney’ exit

GREY GARDEN: “SNL” regular Jason Sudeikis (right) played Mitt Romney during the campaign. Martin Short (left, with Fred Armisen) hosts and Paul McCartney (top left, with “SNL” boss Lorne Michaels) is musical guest tonight. (
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‘Saturday
Night Live” cast member Jason Sudeikis, who seems poised to leave the show after seven years, isn’t going anywhere just yet.

“I’m not sure Jason knew when he signed it, but he did sign a lifetime contract,” “SNL” boss Lorne Michaels said yesterday.

“Of course, he has good lawyers, and they’re examining it,” Michaels told the AP.

In all seriousness, he said, Sudeikis — who had been invaluable to the show for his portrayal of Mitt Romney during the presidential campaign this year — began quietly to head for the door last month after the election.

“My sense is, we’ll have him for the rest of the season,” Michaels said. ”And I’d like to keep him for longer than that.

“I think this is his best season yet.”

“SNL” was preparing for tonight’s Christmas episode — the last show for nearly a month.

And it is going out with a senior-citizen special.

Comedian Martin Short — an “SNL” cast member in the mid-1980s — is guest host. And Paul McCartney — fresh from his appearance earlier this week filling in for the late Kurt Cobain with Nirvana at the Sandy benefit concert — is the musical guest.

Short is 62 and McCartney is 70.

“I think he’s from Europe,” Short joked, when asked about McCartney.

The ex-Beatle is also an East Hamptons neighbor of Michaels and long time friend who has been on the show three times before. Why the Medicare edition of a show known for booking only the latest big things?

“The Christmas show has to have an emotional component,” says Michaels.

“Besides, we have a long break following that show, when people are going to have lots of time to talk about it.

“So it’s always better to leave on a high note.”