Colin Kelly Jost is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and head writer for the TV program Saturday Night Live. On March 1, 2014, he joined the show's cast as a featured player and succeeded Seth Meyers as the co-anchor of Weekend Update.
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» All TV Writer InterviewsHello Reddit!
Colin Jost here, coming live from the offices of Saturday Night Live.
I wrote a movie called Staten Island Summer and I'm very grateful that it got made and that so many of my friends from SNL are in it.
It's on Netflix starting JULY 30th!
The movie's about a group of lifeguards on Staten Island trying to throw a staff party on the last weekend of summer.
Check out the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5I2bgxbBHc&feature=youtu.be
It stars Cecily Strong, Fred Armisen, Kate McKinnon, Bobby Moynihan, Mike O'Brien and Will Forte from SNL, as well as these amazing people: Graham Phillips, Zack Pearlman, Jim Gaffigan and Ashley Greene, Gina Gershon, Vincent Pastore, Method Man and Penny Marshall. Which might be the most insane cast list I've ever seen.
Now go ahead and ask me about the movie, SNL, Weekend Update, or whatever else you want!
PROOF: https://twitter.com/nbcsnl/status/626106716577484800
When we doing a skit?
Literally any time.
(between 11:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. on Saturdays.)
Yo Jost,
You think you work hord? You think Riblet can't do your jorb?
Bobby, this is embarrassing. You don't have to talk to me in character. And please just e-mail me directly: lorne@jamiroquai.com
Colin- Would you rather make out with Michael Che and have no one know about it or bang Cecily Strong in front of your Mom?
Mom! Stop asking me this!
how much weed does pete davidson smoke?
According to Pete's lawyers, none. But they were pretty high when I called their office.
You are the most beautiful replacement to Seth Myers. I was so disappointed when he left but the opposite of that when you showed up.
Did he prep you for the job at all? What did that entail?
Fun fact: It's Seth Meyers. Seth Myers is a nickname for Seth Greene when he plays Mike Myers's son in Austin Powers.
do i ACTUALLY need a mini fridge for college???
Honestly? Yes.
Do you get to watch the musical performances on Saturday Night Live?
It's my favorite moment of the week. It's the one time I can stand in the studio and look around and think how grateful I am to work at SNL.
This was one of my favorite performances of all time. And it was the first time Rihanna played this song anywhere:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-dW7z0QBNg
How early on did you know you wanted to be in comedy?
Also, what does Michael Che have against my mama?
I never thought about "being" in comedy when I grew up because I didn't know it was a real job. But looking back, it's the only thing I ever really cared about.
And your mama did something really messed up in the 70's but it's too graphic to explain on Reddit.
Ever been to Nova Scotia's Jost winery? I don't recommend it.
Good sell.
Can my friend Becca have your number? She would really appreciate it.
Sure but this is only for Becca.
(911) 345-5545
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
WNBA
Thanks for doing this! Who are your favorite and least favorite hosts who have appeared on SNL while you've been on the show?
Thanks for your question! One of my favorites of all time was my childhood hero Jim Carrey. One of my least favorites from a legal standpoint was Robert Blake.
Hey Colin! Thanks for doing this! Could you describe what the transition from being a long-time writer on the show to being on Weekend Update was like? Also, who is/was your main writing partner on the show?
It was pretty crazy. I already had a whole rhythm to my week as a writer, so it took a while to change it up and focus more on performing than on writing. Here's what helped a ton: Rob Klein and Bryan Tucker took over most of the Head Writer job and they're two of the funniest writers I've ever met. Rob and Bryan and I write a lot together for the show. Also Dennis McNicholas who used to be one of the head writers with Tina Fey and Adam McKay started producing WU last year and that was awesome. And our WU writers are the best and made our jobs a lot more fun: Pete Schultz (Leslie calls him "Franklin), Josh Patten (Leslie calls him "Clarence"), Katie Rich (Leslie calls her "Rachel"), and Megan Callahan (Leslie has not yet addressed her by name.)
If you could have dinner with any past SNL Cast Member (dead or alive) who would you choose? jeopardy music commences
I would choose "alive."
Colin - I noticed early on you wear the same attire every single WU. Is that a wardrobe choice or a superstition thing? From now on I'll only ever be able to picture you in that.
Also, please tell me you've written a scene for you and Leslie to do the Drunken Soulmates sketch.
Thanks!
I get asked this all the time! It's so weird because I think every WU anchor in history has always worn the same thing. Right? I just think no one ever noticed before there wasn't social media before.
Hey, Colin. Huge fan. My question is:
Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?
You mean when I climbed up from heaven? It was actually a relief because heaven was full of flames.
From a fellow Regian to another, what was your favorite memory from Regis High School?
My favorite memory was playing that song "Just Put It In My Mouth" over the loudspeaker and locking the cabinet so the dean couldn't shut it off.
Do you think you'll ever do a stand-up tour?
Yeah I'm on the road a lot. Just did DC, Palm Beach, Denver, Chicago and Montreal. So build a time machine and come see me at any of those places!
Hey Colin! What was your favorite moment behind the scenes of SNL?
The craziest moment was walking out to do Weekend Update and my first joke was about the Patriots and Deflategate and the one person I passed walking to the desk was Robert Kraft. He was just hanging out and watching the show in our studio. I was like, "Hey.... Ear muffs?"
Hey, how do you feel right before you go live? Do you have to stave away nerves or anxiety, and does that feeling change over time? I don't necessarily mean "if it gets easier," but maybe specific examples of "this day I thought of that beef sandwich I ate," or "I feel very connected at this moment, I am going to change the nation's perspective with the words I speak tonight."
It's definitely closer to "beef sandwich" than it is to "change the nation's perspective."
As a fellow Staten Island native, I know the borough gets a bad rap sometimes. What, if any, other media about it can you recommend that shows the positive side of life there as opposed to the Jersey Shore-esque crap so often depicted instead?
I just read a fantastic new book set on Staten Island called "Small Mercies" by a fellow Islander Eddie Joyce. Highly recommend it. My whole family's in the fire department so it really hit home.
Hi Colin,
As a Staten Islander I'm excited to get to see Staten Island Summer on Netflix. I'm having a viewing party with all my buddies, what food should I serve?
Denino's pizza, Ralph's Ices, then bring everyone to Adobe Blues for Mexican food, then go to Trattoria Romana for Italian then Basilio's for more Italian then sleep for 2 weeks.
What's your favorite street in NYC and why?
I love Avenue B for some reason. It's not all cocky like Avenue A.
Hi Colin! Who would you like to see host SNL or perform as a musical act that hasn't been on the show yet?
The two I most want to see host are Stephen Colbert and Dave Chappelle.
I think it'd be awesome if LCD Soundsystem got back together to play our show.
Do you think my cat has some allergy I don't know about or is she just sick?
It's an allergy.
But maybe check with these professionals:
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/cat-rescue-commercial/2836297
Much respect from the UK. I was wondering if you have any influences from this side of "the pond"?
Many yes. Evelyn Waugh, Martin Amis and A Fish Called Wanda are three that come to mind. Plus Harry Potter for his style.
What advice do you have for aspiring performers?
Find other people who make you laugh and spend as much time with them as you can. They'll make you better and keep you motivated.
Who was the biggest fan of Disney's Captain EO on the SIS set?
I get this question all the time.
But I still refuse to answer it.
Some secrets I will take to the grave.
What's the biggest/weirdest insult you've ever gotten from a fan?
i.e. You look like my best friend's grandfather's chode after a snowstorm
The weirdest "compliment" I ever got was when a man came up to me on the street and said, "Oh my god you're famous right! Do you work for Microsoft??" I was like, "Did you think I was Bill Gates...?"
Hi, Colin. Thanks for doing the iAMA.
My question is: What's the best advice that you can give to your fans and/or friends that are going through tough times/bullying?
I think it's really hard and it makes you angry and you have to somehow channel that anger into something productive. Let it drive you so that one day you can look back and realize how much better you're doing than that idiot who bullied you.
Also rollercoasters are fun.
How was it being on the Weakest Link?
Humiliating? But also amazing?
I'm so glad you're doing this AMA! Thank you!
What sort of cologne do you use?
What was your favorite scene to shoot/write for SIS?
What's your favorite candy?
(edit: formatting)
Thank YOU!
Don't use cologne but as a kid I definitely owned Michael Jordan cologne and wore it to basketball games because I thought that's what it was for. (I might have been right...)
Favorite scene to shoot was Fred bringing in a barrel of jet fuel and talking to Bobby while Bobby smoked a cigarette.
From your days as a lifeguard at GK, what was your favorite stroke and why?
I loved backstroke because you could just breathe regular the whole time. And when you were tired you could pull on the lane.