DISCLAIMER: This article contains references to alcohol and drug addiction.Colin Jost he is making a move that no one saw coming. After years behind the “Weekend Update” desk on “Saturday Night Live,” aka SNL, he’s ditching his familiar comic territory to star as one of the most brutal real-life criminals you’ve probably never heard of, a suburban dentist who moonlights as a drug lord. Jost will play Larry Lavin, an Ivy League dentist who secretly built a sprawling cocaine empire, in a new Peacock drama series. This may be Jost’s biggest left turn to date.
Colin Jost’s new series: What’s It About?
According to 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 is not only the star of the show; executive producer Alex Barnow (known for ‘The Goldbergs’) directs the show. Jeff Grosvenor and Rachel Kaplan are on board as executive producers, 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 most elusive cocaine kingpin on the East Coast. The show is about how a guy living the American dream built a criminal empire right under everyone’s noses.Notably, Jost is still with SNL, so viewers don’t have to worry about him leaving ‘Weekend Update’ just yet.
Who was Larry Lavin?
For those unfamiliar, Larry Lavin was a well-liked Ivy League-educated dentist in suburban Philadelphia in the late 70s and early 80s. According to EW, he lived in a nice neighborhood, had a thriving practice, and blended in perfectly with his upper-middle-class neighbors. But by night, he was running an operation known as the “Yuppie Conspiracy,” moving tons of cocaine up and down the East Coast, catering to high-profile clients and always staying one step ahead of the law. Lavin’s ability to lead a double life while secretly running a drug ring under the guise of a professional model made capture nearly impossible.Eventually, his luck ran out. The FBI closed in, Lavin was arrested, bailed, and recaptured. He was sentenced to 42 years drug trafficking and tax evasion, but was reduced to 21 years. The series intends to go deeper than crime. The strange psychology behind Lavin’s double life is up for grabs. How does someone go from brushing their teeth to running a drug empire without anyone suspecting a thing?
What about the show?
As for the series, although it doesn’t have a title yet, it’s being described as a true crime drama with a darkly absurd edge. That tone is true to Jost’s comedic roots, but the material is much heavier. So, viewers can expect to see Lavin’s journey from tiny to old-time king, along with the chaos and cost of keeping up appearances. Ambition, deception, the illusion of success — everything is on the table. The show seeks to confront this central contradiction: how the American dream sometimes hides a much darker reality.
Who is Colin Jost?
As for Colin Jost, he’s been on SNL since 2005, first as a writer and then as head writer and co-anchor of “Weekend Update” with Michael Che. His dry humor and sharp timing have made him one of the most popular comedic voices on television. In terms of acting, he has mostly stuck to smaller, funnier roles so far. Off-camera, he is also famous for being married to Scarlett Johansson, and the couple have a son together, named Cosmo Jost, who was born in August 2021.DISADVANTAGES: If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or substance abuse, seek help from available helplines or support organizations.
