SmartLess "Colin Jost"
66 snips
May 4, 2026 
Colin Jost, SNL Weekend Update co-anchor and comedy writer, shares wild backstage stories and late-night feasting rituals. He recounts early childhood speech quirks, the oddities of SNL face molds, and buying a Staten Island Ferry to turn into a public event space. Conversations jump from writer-room candy binges and health scares to his path from Harvard Lampoon to head writer, plus thoughts on acting and Pop Culture Jeopardy.
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Early Childhood Silence And Family Resilience
- Colin Jost described his childhood: he couldn't speak until almost four but comprehended everything his parents said.
- He later mimicked a Sopranos-style voice and recalled his mother surviving the South Tower collapse on 9/11, grounding his early family context.
Late Night Candy Led To A Panic Episode
- Colin shared his writer-room candy habit: he ate Swedish Fish during late-night SNL writing sessions and once thought he had a heart attack from sugar, stress, and sleeplessness.
- A doctor advised less sugar and more sleep after that panic-like episode.
Buying A Staten Island Ferry As A Real Estate Play
- Colin recounted buying a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry with Pete Davidson on a city auction for about $280,000.
- He envisioned converting it into docked public space: events, a rooftop pool, seasonal moves to Miami, and already recouped some costs via events.