Michael Che Can’t Stop Teasing His ‘SNL’ Departure
Lorne Michaels promised that all would be revealed about Saturday Night Live cast changes this week, and Michael Che got a jump on things on Sunday night by dropping hints on his Instagram Story. “this next week may determine the rest of my comedy career,” he posted.
Calm down, everybody — it’s just Che being Che. The only thing the Weekend Update anchor likes better than teasing an imminent SNL departure is trolling his fans on Instagram. “now, i kno that sounds dramatic and cryptic.. so ill give you an easy hint as to what i mean,” he wrote, followed by…
Sigh. Che is back on his “I’m going to become a barista” troll, a bit that clearly he finds funny. But his temporary posts weren’t all fun and games. When one fan implored him, “Please make another Netflix special,” he suggested that wasn’t in his future either.
“ehh.. whats special bout a special anymore..?” he replied. “i mean the whole point of a special is you dont see this all the time. but if its literally ALL you see, ALL the time. then whats so special about an hour of jokes..?”
The truly baller move? “its actually more special to not have a special now.”
Then Che went after comedians who specialize in riffing with audience members, another comedy fad that he’s not buying.
“its like crowd work. when something randomly interrupts your already prepared show, and you can seamlessly pivot then incorporate it all back into your show.. till nobody knows whats prepared was planned anymore.. now THATS special. but you have nothing prepared and youre just asking stereotypes about stereotypes, till you nail one… still may be very funny, but..”
He followed the mini-rant with a shrug emoji.
What does all of this mean for Che’s comedy future? A shrug emoji is probably the best answer. Che and Colin Jost have obliterated the record for longest run behind SNL’s Weekend Update desk, the most consistently reliable laugh generator on the show. While it looks like a fun gig, all good things must come to an end, and no cast member has said he’s ready to move on more often than Che. Back in April, he hinted that he’d no longer be famous after he finished the final three episodes of Season 50. A year ago, he told Howard Stern he wasn’t having fun anymore. He tells stand-up audiences and podcast hosts he’s ready to quit. And on and on and on.
But this could finally be the end. Michaels promised that with the 50th party behind him, it’s time to reinvent SNL again. If the cast is due for a major shake-up, the guy who’s always threatening to leave is the most obvious candidate for the door.
