History of Colin Jost in Timeline

Colin Jost is a prominent American comedian, writer, and actor, best known for his long-standing tenure on Saturday Night Live (SNL). Joining the show as a writer in 2005, he eventually became a head writer and a co-anchor of the popular 'Weekend Update' segment starting in 2014. Known for his dry wit and deadpan delivery, Jost has received numerous Emmy Award nominations for his writing contributions. Beyond SNL, he has expanded his career into stand-up comedy, hosting duties, and acting in various films. In 2020, he published his memoir, 'A Very Punchable Face,' which offers a humorous look at his upbringing and career. Married to actress Scarlett Johansson, Jost remains a central figure in modern American television comedy and pop culture.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

June 29, 1982: Birth of Colin Jost

On June 29, 1982, American comedian, writer, and actor Colin Kelly Jost was born.

Others born on this day/year

2000: Graduation from Regis High School

In 2000, Colin Jost graduated from Regis High School in Manhattan, where he had previously served as the editor of the school's newspaper, The Owl.

2004: Graduation from Harvard University

In 2004, Colin Jost completed his studies at Harvard University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude, having focused his academic work on Russian and British literature while also serving as the president of The Harvard Lampoon.

2005: Joining Saturday Night Live

In 2005, Colin Jost began his professional tenure as a staff writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live.

2005: Hired as a writer for Saturday Night Live

In 2005, following his early career as a reporter and a writer for Nickelodeon's Kappa Mikey, Colin Jost secured a position as a writer for the long-running NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live after submitting a successful writing packet.

2009: Beginning of SNL Writing Supervision

In 2009, Colin Jost began his tenure as a writing supervisor for Saturday Night Live, a position he held until 2012.

2009: Montreal Just for Laughs New Face

In 2009, Colin Jost was selected as a "New Face" at the prestigious Montréal Just for Laughs festival.

2010: Return to Montreal Just for Laughs

In 2010, Colin Jost made a return appearance at the Montréal Just for Laughs festival.

2011: Chicago Just for Laughs Appearance

In 2011, Colin Jost performed at the Chicago Just for Laughs festival.

2012: Festival Appearances in Chicago and Montreal

During 2012, Colin Jost continued his festival circuit by appearing at both the Chicago and Montréal Just for Laughs events.

2012: Promotion to Co-Head Writer

In 2012, Colin Jost was promoted to the role of co-head writer for Saturday Night Live, a position he held through 2015.

2013: Weekend Update Offer

During the summer hiatus of 2013, executive producer Lorne Michaels approached Colin Jost to take over the Weekend Update feature.

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March 1, 2014: Weekend Update Debut

On March 1, 2014, Colin Jost officially replaced Seth Meyers as the co-anchor of the Weekend Update segment on Saturday Night Live.

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2014: Co-anchoring Weekend Update

In 2014, Colin Jost took on the role of co-anchor for the recurring segment Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live.

2015: End of Initial Co-Head Writer Term

In 2015, Colin Jost concluded his initial period as a co-head writer for Saturday Night Live.

2015: Conclusion of First Co-head Writer Term

In 2015, Colin Jost concluded his initial period serving as a co-head writer for the show Saturday Night Live.

2015: Donation to Pete Buttigieg's Mayoral Campaign

In 2015, Colin Jost provided a financial donation to support the mayoral reelection campaign of Pete Buttigieg, whom he had previously known as a dormmate at Harvard.

2015: Staten Island Summer Release

In 2015, Colin Jost showcased his writing and acting talents by penning the screenplay for and appearing in the comedy film Staten Island Summer.

January 2016: Opening for Liam McEneaney

In January 2016, Colin Jost performed as an opening act for comedian Liam McEneaney during an album recording session held at The Bell House in Brooklyn.

May 2017: Beginning of Relationship with Scarlett Johansson

In May 2017, Colin Jost and actress Scarlett Johansson began their romantic relationship after having met during her hosting appearances on Saturday Night Live.

2017: Return as Co-Head Writer

In 2017, Colin Jost returned to his role as co-head writer for Saturday Night Live, a position he would maintain until 2022.

September 2018: Cohosting the Primetime Emmy Awards

In September 2018, Colin Jost served as a cohost for the Primetime Emmy Awards alongside his colleague Michael Che.

2018: Izod Advertising Campaign

In late 2018, Colin Jost collaborated with NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers to appear in a promotional advertising campaign for the clothing brand Izod.

March 4, 2019: WWE Monday Night Raw Appearance

On March 4, 2019, Colin Jost and Michael Che appeared on WWE's Monday Night Raw to be introduced as special correspondents for WrestleMania 35, during which they became embroiled in a storyline with wrestler Braun Strowman that led to their entry in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

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May 2019: Engagement to Scarlett Johansson

In May 2019, Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson officially became engaged to be married.

July 2020: Release of A Very Punchable Face: A Memoir

In July 2020, Colin Jost published his memoir titled 'A Very Punchable Face: A Memoir', which earned positive reviews and successfully secured a spot on the New York Times Bestseller List.

October 2020: Marriage to Scarlett Johansson

In October 2020, Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson were married during a ceremony held at their home in New York.

2020: Portrayal of Pete Buttigieg on Saturday Night Live

During the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Colin Jost performed as his friend and political candidate Pete Buttigieg in sketches on Saturday Night Live.

August 2021: Birth of Son

In August 2021, Colin Jost and his wife Scarlett Johansson welcomed the birth of their first child together, a son.

October 23, 2021: Record-Breaking Anchor Tenure

On the October 23, 2021, episode of Saturday Night Live, Colin Jost broke the record for the longest-serving anchor in the history of the Weekend Update segment.

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2021: Portrayal of Roger Goodell

In 2021, Colin Jost appeared on screen to portray NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during the 2021 NFL season.

2022: Conclusion of Second Co-Head Writer Term

In 2022, Colin Jost concluded his second stint serving as a co-head writer for Saturday Night Live.

2023: Purchase of the MV John F. Kennedy Ferry

In 2023, Colin Jost and fellow comedian Pete Davidson collaborated to purchase the decommissioned Staten Island Ferry boat known as the MV John F. Kennedy.

April 27, 2024: Hosting the White House Correspondents' Dinner

On April 27, 2024, Colin Jost served as the featured comedian at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. During his 20-minute monologue, he poked fun at political figures Donald Trump and Joe Biden, spoke fondly of his marriage to actress Scarlett Johansson, and delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of a free press.

July 31, 2024: Host Announcement for Pop Culture Jeopardy!

On July 31, 2024, it was officially announced that Colin Jost would serve as the host for the new game show Pop Culture Jeopardy!, which was initially scheduled for release on the streaming platform Amazon Prime Video.

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2024: Cameo in Fly Me to the Moon

In 2024, Colin Jost made a brief appearance as a cameo in the feature film Fly Me to the Moon, a project that starred his wife, actress Scarlett Johansson.

2024: NBC Sports Olympic Surfing Coverage

In 2024, Colin Jost traveled to Tahiti as a correspondent for NBC Sports to cover the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, but he was forced to return home early for medical treatment after sustaining multiple infections from a reef-related foot injury.

2025: Portrayal of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

Beginning in 2025, Colin Jost began portraying Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in comedic sketches.

2025: Honorary Degree from College of Staten Island

In 2025, Colin Jost was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by the College of Staten Island, CUNY, honoring his impactful work in television, comedy, and his commitment to community service.