Weekend Update

Jost recounted that Michael Che met the audience before the show and told them not to laugh at anything Jost said.

“He went and met with the audience before they loaded in, like looked them in the eyes and were like, listen, you're not laughing”

SmartLess: "Colin Jost" (May 4, 2026) · Listen from 50:03

Jost said he and Michael Che expected to be fired every summer for at least their first two years on Update.

“for like the first two years at least, we thought we were going to get fired every summer”

SmartLess: "Colin Jost" (May 4, 2026) · Listen from 46:46

Jost said his early Update struggles came from nerves that audiences misread as cockiness.

“I think I was really nervous, and I probably smiled or laughed in a way that made people think I was kind of cocky about it”

SmartLess: "Colin Jost" (May 4, 2026) · Listen from 47:04

Meyers says he persuaded Lorne Michaels to let him anchor Update alone the night Amy Poehler went into labor.

“I think if you don't let me do it alone tonight, it will just look like you don't think I can do it alone”

SmartLess: "Seth Meyers" (Sep 28, 2026) · Listen from 40:45

Meyers says Shoemaker advised him to play the Update anchor as patient and delighted with guest characters rather than frustrated.

“I think the audience doesn't like that you don't like them. He was basically like, I think you should try to play this as sort of patient and delighted”

SmartLess: "Seth Meyers" (Sep 28, 2026) · Listen from 38:27

Sherman says her Weekend Update appearances as herself were Colin Jost's idea at a time when she wasn't getting sketches on the show.

“But then Colin was like, why don't you come on update and do like your yourself and”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Sarah Sherman (Jun 16, 2026) · Listen from 44:52