Colin Jost And Michael Che Named ‘Saturday Night Live’ Co-Writers
This just in! Weekend Update's Colin Jost and Michael Che have been promoted to the Saturday Night Live writing team.
Weekend Update Anchor Highlights
Che and Jost first paired up in 2014 after Jost's original partner, Cecily Strong, departed to focus on the show. The pair breathed new energy into the show as Che and Jost frequently welcomed cast members, Leslie Jones and Pete Davidson, to provide commentary on current events and social issues. The segment also introduced eccentric characters such as Cathy Anne (Strong) and highly exaggerated versions of public figures such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel (Kate McKinnon) and First Sons Eric and Donald Trump, Jr. (Alex Moffat and Mikey Day).
Co-Head Writer Responsibilities
Jost and Che will be assisting Saturday Night Live co-head writers Kent Sublette and Bryan Tucker with building the show. For Jost, this will be his fourth stint as the show's head writer. Jost severed as co-head writer with Seth Meyers during the 2012-13 and 13-14 seasons. Meyers left the show to focus on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Jost also served as the head writer during the series' milestone 40th anniversary season but left at the end of the season to focus on Weekend Update. The show also promoted two longtime writers, Sudi Green and Fran Gillespie, as script supervisors.
Saturday Night Highlights
The Saturday Night Live writing team has been responsible for creating several memorable sketches over the past year. One of its recurring successes is Alec Baldwin's show-stopping impersonation of President Trump. The impression has led to a best-selling book: You Can't Spell America With Me: The Really Tremendous Inside Story of My Fantastic First Year as President Donald J. Trump. Currently, Baldwin is toying with the idea of bringing the book to Broadway with Lorne Michaels' blessing.
Melissa McCartney won her latest Emmy for portraying the Trump White House's first press secretary Sean Spicer. McCartney's exaggerated version of the original press secretary made viewers laugh out loud and smile. Other highlights included McKinnon and Moffat's hysterical Morning Joe skit, as well as President Trump and company performing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" at the end of Season 42. This season, Saturday Night Live welcomed Tiffany Haddish and Taylor Swift as guest stars.
In Good Company
Both Che and Jost have become the third and fourth Weekend Update anchors in Saturday Night Live history to be head writers. Other Weekend Update anchors who served as head writers for the show include Meyers and Tina Fey, who was the show's first female head writer.
