Trigger Warning: This article contains references to alcohol and drug addiction.Colin Jost makes a move that no one expected. After years working behind the “Weekend Update” desk on “Saturday Night Live,” aka SNL, he’s abandoning his familiar comedic territory to play one of the deadliest real-life criminals you’ve probably never heard of, a suburban dentist who worked as a major drug dealer.
Jost will play Larry Lavin, a dentist who secretly built a sprawling cocaine empire, in a new Peacock drama series. This may be the biggest left turn of Jost’s career so far.
Colin Jost’s new series: what is 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. Ghost doesn’t just star in the show; He is also executive producing, with Alex Barnow (best known for The Goldbergs) running the show.
Jeff Grosvenor and Rachel Kaplan also serve as executive producers, along with Lavigne himself.The story is adapted from the first season of the Audacy podcast “Wolves Among Us.” Here’s the official line: By day, Larry LaVine was a respected dentist and family man; By night, he was the East Coast’s most elusive cocaine kingpin. The show unveils how a man living the American dream built a criminal empire under everyone’s noses.
Notably, Jost is still sticking with SNL, so there’s no need to worry about him leaving “Weekend Update” just yet.
Who was Larry LaVine?
For the uninitiated, Larry Lavin was a beloved, Ivy League-educated dentist in suburban Philadelphia during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Per 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 ran an operation known as the “yuppie conspiracy,” moving tons of cocaine up and down the East Coast, catering to upscale clients, and always staying one step ahead of the law.
Lavigne’s ability to live a double life, looking like a professional model while secretly running a drug ring, made it nearly impossible to catch him.Eventually, his luck ran out. The FBI closed its doors, Lavigne was arrested, bail was skipped, and he was arrested again. He was sentenced to 42 years in prison for drug trafficking and tax evasion, but the sentence was reduced to 21 years. The series plans to look into more than just crime. It is set to explore the strange psychology behind Lavigne’s double life. How can someone go from brushing teeth to running a drug empire without anyone suspecting anything?
What about the offer?
As for the series, while it still has no title, it is described as a true crime drama with a very silly tone.
This tone matches Ghost’s roots in comedy, but the material is much heavier. So, viewers can expect to see Lavigne’s journey from small-time crook to big boss, along with the chaos and cost of keeping up appearances. Ambition, deception, the illusion of success – it’s all on the table. The show aims to address this central contradiction: how the American dream sometimes masks a darker reality.
Who is Colin Jost?
As for Colin Jost, he’s been a fixture on SNL since 2005, first as a writer and then as co-head writer and host of Weekend Update with Michael Che. His dry sense of humor and sharp timing have made him one of the most recognizable comedic voices on television. In terms of acting, he has mostly stuck to smaller, funny roles so far. Off camera, he is also famous for his marriage to Scarlett Johansson, and they have a son together, Cosmo Ghost, who was born in August 2021.Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or drug abuse, please seek help from available helplines or support organizations.