Liz Patrick

Patrick attended Boston University, where she graduated with a degree in Film and Television.

Patrick began her television directing career in New York City at MTV. From 1998 to 2017, she directed numerous shows, live music and awards specials for the network such as Total Request Live, MTV Spring Break, MTV Beach House, MTV New Year's Eve, among others.^[1]

In 2008, Patrick moved to Los Angeles to direct The Ellen DeGeneres Show, becoming the show's first female director. She spent 13 seasons at Ellen, directing a total of 2,195 episodes. In 2018, Patrick also became a producer of the show.

In 2021, Patrick became the director of Saturday Night Live,^[2][3] making her the show's fifth director, and only second female director (behind Beth McCarthy-Miller),^[4] in SNL's 47 year history. She replaced director Don Roy King, who retired December 2021.^[5] At the start of the season, both King and Patrick co-directed together, with Patrick observing King on two episodes,^[6] until Patrick started directing Saturday Night Live solo on January 15, 2022. For her work on Saturday Night Live, she has won two Emmy Awards, including the show's record-breaking 101th Emmy Award in 2024.^[7]

On February 16, 2025, Patrick directed Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live. The three-hour live television special required Patrick and show designers to bring together SNL's current and former cast members, musical guests, and celebrity hosts to honor five decades of cultural impact and groundbreaking television.^[8] The live broadcast was produced without the traditional dress rehearsal.^[9] Patrick won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special for SNL50.^[10]

In July 2025, Patrick directed the first televised edition of the Las Culturistas Culture Awards, co-created, and co-hosted by Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers. The show was produced in Los Angeles, and broadcast on Bravo, and streamed on Peacock on August 5, 2025.