Michael Che
He plays the bad guy from an entirely relaxed posture.
5 specials · 2014–2026
Start with Michael Che Matters, the breakout (2016 · 61 min · Netflix)
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He walks out, sits on a stool, and sets a drink nearby. He rarely raises his voice. When he approaches a setup, he chuckles before he speaks, signaling that the premise is going to make people mad. He takes his time. He brings up a sensitive issue, finds the most inflammatory angle, and states it in a mild, almost confused tone. When the audience groans, he grins. He uses their discomfort as part of the act.
Specials
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Netflix
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Colin Jost & Michael Che Present: New York After Dark with Colin Jost
A live Brooklyn stand-up showcase where the hosts get roasted.
Peacock · 57 min
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Michael Che brings his Weekend Update cynicism to a Brooklyn warehouse.
Netflix · 61 min
On stage
He occupies a strange space in comedy. As an anchor on Saturday Night Live for over a decade, he is a television fixture who uses his standup to step as far past the network line as possible. He operates from the center of the establishment, but on stage, he prefers to play the bad guy. Other comics watch him to see how he forces a laugh out of a resistant room.
His best material relies on misdirection. He leads the crowd into expecting an earnest argument, then abruptly swerves into a cynical punchline. He sits comfortably in the quiet moments after a joke offends, using the silence to reload. Occasionally, the instinct to be contrarian overtakes the joke, and the premise just sits there. But when the trap works, he gets a specific laugh: loud, surprised, and immediately followed by the crowd realizing what they just endorsed.
He grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and his cadence comes from a lifetime of listening to people argue on city sidewalks. His sets feel like an extension of those debates, just with a microphone and a drink.
Turning points
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First African-American Weekend Update Co-Anchor
Che joined the Weekend Update desk in 2014 alongside Colin Jost, making history as the first African-American co-anchor in the segment's history.
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Promotion to SNL Co-Head Writer
Che and Colin Jost were named co-head writers of Saturday Night Live in December 2017, leading the writing staff until stepping down ahead of season 48.
At a glance
- Born
- , New York City
- On stage
- since 2009
- Style
- observational, satire, sketch, blue comedy, insult comedy
- Breakout
- Michael Che Matters
- Influences
- Patrice O'Neal, Mitch Hedberg, Jim Norton
- Topics
- Elsewhere
- Website, Wikipedia
Fans also like
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Colin Jost
Che and Jost have served as long-term Weekend Update co-anchors and SNL co-head writers, celebrated for their comedic chemistry and signature joke-swapping bits.
Also on screen
- 2013–present
- Saturday Night Live
- Chinese Puzzle
- The Daily Show
- Top Five
- Lyle
A clip to start with
A clip of Michael Che