‘Saturday Night Live’ Picks Head Writer Colin Jost As New Weekend Update Host, Replacing Seth Meyers

Colin Jost, the current head writer of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” will be the new co-anchor of the program’s Weekend Update, replacing Seth Meyers.

Lorne Michaels, executive producer of “Saturday Night Live,” reportedly made the announcement Thursday. Jost will co-anchor the long-running segment with Cecily Strong, who was the co-anchor at the start of the current season, starting March 1.

SNL tweeted about this announcement saying: “Big congrats to our head writer, @TheColinJost, who will join @cecilybecily at the @SNLUpdate desk as @sethmeyers’ successor!! #SNL.”

Meyers will be replacing Jimmy Fallon as host of NBC’s “Late Night” program beginning Feb. 24. His last episode for SNL's Weekend Update will be the Feb. 1 Super Bowl edition hosted by Melissa McCarthy.

On hearing about the news of Jost as the new co-anchor, former SNL writer and fellow comedian John Mulaney expressed his enthusiasm in a tweet that read: “I am thrilled for @TheColinJost! One of the funniest/smartest people in comedy! He once fell asleep on a burger. He will kill it on Update.”

Jost first joined SNL in 2005 at the age of 22 and became head writer in 2012. He won the Peabody Award in 2009 and has three Writers Guild Awards to his name, and has been nominated for seven Emmy awards for his work on SNL. He also has written and will star in the upcoming Paramount feature, “Staten Island Summer,” which is based on his days as a lifeguard.

Reportedly, SNL will also air a new episode with Jonah Hill as host on Jan. 25.