TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains references to alcohol and drug addiction.Colin Jost is making a move nobody saw coming. After years behind the ‘Weekend Update’ desk on ‘Saturday Night Live’, also known as SNL, he’s ditching his familiar comic territory to star as one of the wildest real-life criminals you’ve probably never heard of, a suburban dentist who moonlighted as a major drug kingpin. Jost will play Larry Lavin, the Ivy League dentist who secretly built a sprawling cocaine empire, in a new drama series for Peacock. This might be the biggest left turn of Jost’s career so far.
Colin Jost’s new series: What is it about?
Per Entertainment Weekly, Colin Jost’s new show doesn’t have an official title yet, but it’s based on an almost unbelievable true story. Jost isn’t just starring in the show; he’s also executive producing, with Alex Barnow (known for ‘The Goldbergs’) running the show. Jeff Grosvenor and Rachel Kaplan are on board as executive producers, too, along with Lavin himself.The story is adapted from the first season of the Audacy podcast ‘Wolves Among Us’. And here’s the official logline: By day, Larry Lavin was a respected dentist and family man; by night, he was the East Coast’s most elusive cocaine kingpin. The show peels back the curtain on how a guy living the American dream built a criminal empire right under everyone’s nose.Notably, Jost is still sticking with SNL, so the audience doesn’t have to worry about him leaving ‘Weekend Update’ just yet.
Who was Larry Lavin?
For the unversed, Larry Lavin was a well-liked, Ivy League-educated dentist in suburban Philadelphia during the late ’70s and early ’80s. Per EW, he lived in a nice neighborhood, had a thriving practice, and blended in perfectly with his upper-middle-class neighbors. But at night, he was running an operation known as the “Yuppie Conspiracy,” moving tons of cocaine up and down the East Coast, catering to high-end clients, and always staying one step ahead of the law. Lavin’s ability to lead a double life, looking like the model professional while secretly masterminding a drug ring, made him almost impossible to catch.Eventually, his luck ran out. The FBI closed in, Lavin got arrested, skipped out on bail, and was caught again. He was hit with a 42-year sentence for drug trafficking and tax evasion, but got it knocked down to 21 years. The series plans to dig into more than just the crime. It’s set to explore the weird psychology behind Lavin’s double life. How does someone go from cleaning teeth to running a drug empire without anyone suspecting a thing?
What about the show?
As for the series, while it still doesn’t have a title, it’s described as a true-crime drama with a darkly absurd edge. That tone matches Jost’s roots in comedy, but the material is a lot heavier. So, the viewers can expect to see Lavin’s journey from small-time hustler to big-time kingpin, alongside the chaos and cost of keeping up appearances. Ambition, deception, the illusion of success — it’s all on the table. The show aims to tackle that central contradiction: how the American dream sometimes hides a much darker reality.
Who is Colin Jost?
As for Colin Jost, he’s been a fixture at SNL since 2005, first as a writer and then as co-head writer and ’Weekend Update’ anchor with Michael Che. His dry humor and sharp timing have made him one of the most recognizable comedy voices on TV. Acting-wise, he’s mostly stuck to smaller, funny roles until now. Off-camera, he’s also famous for being married to Scarlett Johansson, and the couple has a son together, named Cosmo Jost, who was born in August 2021.DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or substance abuse, please seek help from available helplines or support organizations.
