Michael Che
{{Short description|American comedian (born 1983)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Michael Che
| image = File:Michael Che at Citi Field, 2015.jpg
| caption = Che in 2015
| birth_name = Michael Che Campbell
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|5|19}}
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| medium = {{hlist|Stand-up|television|film}}
| genre = {{hlist|Political/news satire|observational comedy|sketch comedy|blue comedy|insult comedy|racial humor}}
| subject = {{hlist|Mass media/news media/media criticism|American politics|African American culture|current events|pop culture}}
| active = 2009–present
| notable_work = Weekend Update anchor, The Daily Show correspondent, Saturday Night Live writer
| module =
}}
Michael Che Campbell ({{IPAc-en|'|tʃ|eɪ}}; born May 19,{{cite web|url=https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/credits/repertory-player-weekend-update-co-anchor/michael-che|title=Michael Che Repertory Player/Weekend Update Co-Anchor Bio|publisher=NBC|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=April 16, 2020|archive-url= https://archive.today/20200416144854/https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/credits/repertory-player-weekend-update-co-anchor/michael-che|url-status=live|quote=Che is a native of Manhattan and currently resides in the city. His birthday is May 19.}} 1983){{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/sep/15/michael-che-pete-davidson-snl-new-cast|title=Michael Che and Pete Davidson: meet SNL's two newest cast members|first=Lilah|last=Raptopoulos|newspaper=The Guardian|location=UK|date=September 15, 2014| access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151018184512/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/sep/15/michael-che-pete-davidson-snl-new-cast|url-status=live|quote=Che, 31,...}} is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. Che is best known for his work on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, where he has served as co-anchor on Weekend Update alongside Colin Jost since 2014. Che and Jost were co-head writers at SNL from 2017 until 2022.{{cite episode|title=Miles Teller/Kendrick Lamar|series=Saturday Night Live|season=48|number=1|network=NBC|date=October 1, 2022|time=Closing credits}} Che and Jost co-hosted the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2018.{{cite magazine|last1=Bradley|first1=Laura|title=Colin Jost and Michael Che on Their Emmys Debut|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/08/colin-jost-and-michael-che-on-their-emmys-debut|magazine=Vanity Fair}}
Che was briefly a correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and has previously worked as a writer for Saturday Night Live. At the end of September 2014, he became a Weekend Update co-anchor for the 40th season of Saturday Night Live alongside Colin Jost, replacing Cecily Strong.{{cite news|last1=Carter|first1=Bill|title=New Comic to Anchor 'Update' on 'S.N.L.'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/12/business/media/new-comic-to-anchor-update-on-snl.html|access-date=September 11, 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 11, 2014}}
Early life and education
Michael Che Campbell was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York, the youngest of seven children of Rose and Nathaniel Campbell.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2014/06/michael-che-snl-daily-show.php?page=all|title=How New York Comedian Michael Che Willed His Way to SNL and The Daily Show|first=Julie|last=Seabaugh|date=June 3, 2014|work=Runnin' Scared; Village Voice|access-date=October 22, 2014| url-status= dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019083440/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2014/06/michael-che-snl-daily-show.php?page=all|archive-date=October 19, 2014|df=mdy-all}} His father gave him his middle name after the revolutionary Che Guevara.{{cite web|url=http://splitsider.com/2013/04/talking-to-michael-che-about-touring-the-world-and-making-standup-glamorous/|title=Talking to Michael Che About Touring the World and Making Standup Glamorous|work=Splitsider|access-date=October 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916083146/http://splitsider.com/2013/04/talking-to-michael-che-about-touring-the-world-and-making-standup-glamorous/|archive-date= September 16, 2014|url-status= dead}} He has four older brothers and two older sisters.{{Cite episode |title= Michael Che Talks About the Black Lives Matter Protests |episode-link= |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Soys9RmGd8 |access-date= |series= Late Night with Seth Meyers |series-link= |first= |last= |network= |station= |date=June 2, 2020 |season= |series-no= |number= |minutes= |time= |transcript= |transcript-url= |quote= |language=}} One of his older brothers is a detective with the New York Police Department, and another retired from law enforcement.{{cite magazine |last1=Rosen |first1= Christopher |title= Michael Che Really Wishes His 2016 Black Lives Matter Joke Wasn't Still Topical |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/06/michael-che-never-called-911 |magazine=Vanity Fair |publisher=CN Entertainment |access-date=24 May 2023}}
Che was raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.{{cite news | last = Ferré-Sadurní| first= Luis | date= January 9, 2019| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/09/nyregion/michael-che-comedy-show-nycha.html | title= Michael Che Grew Up in New York City’s Projects. Now He’s Trying to Help Them| work= The New York Times| publisher =| accessdate =}} He graduated from the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.{{cite magazine| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/the-50-funniest-people-now-20130124/michael-che-19691231 |title=The 50 Funniest People Now |magazine= Rolling Stone| date= January 24, 2013 |access-date= September 13, 2014 }}{{cite news |first=Megan |last=Angelo|title= City-Bred Comic Has His Heart in the Club |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/04/arts/michael-che-a-rising-and-busy-stand-up-comic.html |newspaper= The New York Times |date= November 2, 2012 |access-date= August 27, 2014 }}
Career
Che worked in customer service for a Toyota car dealership for two years. He also created acrylic portraits of celebrities, printed the portraits on T-shirts, and sold them in SoHo. Tommy Hilfiger noticed his work and offered Che freelance work, but he did not turn in any designs.{{cite news | last= Huddleston| first= Tom, Jr. | date= September 18, 2018| url= https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/17/2018-emmy-awards-michael-che-went-from-selling-t-shirts-to-snl.html | title= How Emmys host Michael Che went from selling T-shirts on a NYC street-corner to 'Saturday Night Live' star| website= CNBC.com| accessdate =}}
= Beginnings and ''Saturday Night Live'' =
Che started performing stand-up comedy in 2009, regularly working several sets per night.{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|1504068621}} |last1=Greenstein |first1= Colette |title=in the Mix: Comedian Michael Che talks stand-up, SNL writing gig |url=https://www.baystatebanner.com/2014/02/19/in-the-mix-comedian-michael-che-talks-stand-up-snl-writing-gig/ |work= The Bay State Banner |date=19 February 2014 }} In 2012, Che appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman.{{cite magazine| url= http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/04/28/michael-che-daily-show-snl/ |title= Michael Che: 5 things to know |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |date= April 28, 2014 |first=Hillary |last= Busis |access-date=April 28, 2014 }} In 2013, Variety called Che one of "10 Comics to Watch",{{cite magazine| first= Andrew | last= Barker |url= https://variety.com/2013/tv/features/new-york-standup-michael-ches-tastes-run-raw-1200564460/ |title=10 Comics to Watch: 'SNL' Writer Michael Che Hones Chops in Edinburgh |magazine= Variety |date=July 17, 2013 |access-date=April 28, 2014}} while Rolling Stone named him one of "The 50 Funniest People".
Che joined Saturday Night Live as a writer in 2013, at first as a guest writer and soon after as staff writer. On April 28, 2014, it was announced that Che would join The Daily Show in June as a correspondent.{{cite news | first= Hal | last= Boedeker |url= http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/blogs/tv-guy/os-daily-show-names-michael-che-correspondent-20140428,0,6934483.post |title=Daily Show names Michael Che correspondent |newspaper= Orlando Sentinel |access-date=April 28, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140429010422/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/blogs/tv-guy/os-daily-show-names-michael-che-correspondent-20140428,0,6934483.post |archive-date=April 29, 2014 |url-status=dead }} Che made his onscreen debut as a Daily Show correspondent on June 4. Although he appeared in only nine segments during his brief tenure on the show, he was lauded by TV Guide for his work. His signature piece for the Daily Show was "Race/Off: Live From Somewhere", a satirical commentary on the 2014 Ferguson protests. In this segment, Che "reported" from various locations (with frequent background changes accomplished via chroma key), looking for a place where a black man would not be harassed by police officers. The sketch ended with Che floating in outer space.{{cite magazine | last = Rudolph| first= Ileane | date = July 27, 2015 | title= Alumni Association: A roundup of 'The Daily Show'{{'}}s coolest Graduates | magazine =TV Guide| pages= 21–22| url= | accessdate =}}
On September 11, 2014, it was announced that Che would take over Cecily Strong's position as a Weekend Update co-anchor for the 40th season of SNL, co-anchoring the segment with Colin Jost. Che is the first African-American co-anchor in the history of Weekend Update.{{cite news| last1= Dawn| first1= Randee|title='Saturday Night Live' taps Michael Che as first black Weekend Update anchor| website = today.com |url= https://www.today.com/popculture/michael-che-replace-cecily-strong-anchor-snls-weekend-update-1D80144898| access-date=September 12, 2014}} During his first two seasons, Che primarily hosted Weekend Update and rarely appeared in any sketches. During his third season, Che was promoted to the main cast. In December 2017, Che was named co-head writer of Saturday Night Live.{{cite magazine |title= Saturday Night Live Makes Its Most Baffling Move Yet |last= Robinson |first= Joanna |magazine= Vanity Fair |date= December 13, 2017 |url= https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/12/colin-jost-michael-che-head-writers-saturday-night-live| access-date= January 28, 2018 }} Vulture.com
At a stand-up show on March 26, 2022, Che announced that he was leaving the desk after the current season, although he did not state when or why he was leaving.{{cite news|url = https://www.startribune.com/michael-che-says-hes-leaving-the-anchor-desk-at-snl/600159659/| title = At Minneapolis show, Michael Che says he's leaving the anchor desk at 'SNL'|work = Star Tribune|date = March 26, 2022|accessdate = March 26, 2022|last = Preston|first = Rohan}} After initially denying in an Instagram post he would leave, he later told Tony Dokoupil on the May 15, 2022 edition of CBS News Sunday Morning that he was uncertain about his future on SNL.{{Cite instagram |user= chethinks|postid=Cbn-0AKpI6v|title=to comedy fans; please stop telling reporters everything you hear at a comedy show. youre spoiling the trick.|date=27 March 2022}}{{cite news|url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-che-on-saturday-night-live-weekend-update-and-standup/| title = Michael Che on controversial comedy: "As long as people are talking it's not all that bad."|work = | publisher = CBS News|date = May 15, 2022|accessdate = May 15, 2022}}
= Other appearances =
In 2014, Che appeared in the movie Top Five, appearing as one of Chris Rock's character's friends.{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|1640492817}} |last1=Sandoval |first1= Lapacazo |title=Rock makes another hit with 'Top Five' |url=https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2014/12/12/rock-makes-another-hit-top-five/ |work=New York Amsterdam News |date= 12 December 2014| accessdate =}}
On September 17, 2018, Che co-hosted the Emmy Awards with Colin Jost.{{cite magazine |title= Here Are the Best Jokes From Michael Che and Colin Jost's Emmys 2018 Monologue |last= Gajanan |first=Mahita |magazine= Time |date= September 18, 2018 |url= https://time.com/5398338/emmys-2018-michael-che-colin-jost-monologue-jokes/ |access-date= September 18, 2018 }} Che and Jost also appeared on the March 4, 2019, episode of WWE's Monday Night Raw, where both were announced as special correspondents for WrestleMania 35. The pair got involved in a storyline with wrestler Braun Strowman, which eventually resulted in Che and Jost becoming participants in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania.{{cite web| url= https://prowrestling.net/site/2019/03/04/3-4-powells-wwe-raw-tv-review-triple-hs-response-to-batista-attacking-ric-flair-charlotte-flair-wants-vince-mcmahon-to-name-her-the-raw-womens-champion-snl-weekend-update-hosts-appear-final/| title= 3/4 Powell's WWE Raw TV Review: Triple H's response to Batista attacking Ric Flair, Charlotte Flair wants Vince McMahon to name her the Raw Women's Champion, SNL Weekend Update hosts appear, final hype for WWE Fastlane| date=March 4, 2019| last= Powell |first= Jason| work= ProWrestling.net| access-date= March 5, 2019}}
Filmography
=Film=
=Television=
Awards and honors
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Wikiquote}}
- {{official website|http://www.michaelche.com}}
- {{IMDb name|5182370}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-media}}
{{succession box|title=Weekend Update anchor with Colin Jost|before=Colin Jost and Cecily Strong|after=Incumbent|years=September 27, 2014 – present}}
{{succession box|title=SNL Head Writer
(with Colin Jost, Bryan Tucker, and Kent Sublette)|before=Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider, Bryan Tucker, and Kent Sublette| after=Himself
(with Colin Jost and Kent Sublette) |years=December 16, 2017 – May 19, 2018}}
{{succession box|title=SNL Head Writer
(with Colin Jost, and Kent Sublette)|before=Himself, Colin Jost, Bryan Tucker, and Kent Sublette| after=Himself
(with Colin Jost, Kent Sublette, and Anna Drezen) |years=September 29, 2018 – May 9, 2020}}
{{succession box|title=SNL Head Writer
(with Colin Jost, Kent Sublette, and Anna Drezen)|before=Himself, Colin Jost and Kent Sublette| after=Himself
(with Colin Jost, Kent Sublette, Alison Gates, and Streeter Seidell) |years=October 3, 2020 – December 18, 2021}}
{{succession box|title=SNL Head Writer
(with Colin Jost, Kent Sublette, Alison Gates, and Streeter Seidell)|before=Himself, Colin Jost, Kent Sublette, and Anna Drezen| after=Kent Sublette, Alison Gates, and Streeter Seidell |years=January 15 – May 21, 2022}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Che, Michael}}
Category:21st-century African-American writers
Category:21st-century American comedians
Category:21st-century American actors
Category:21st-century American male writers
Category:21st-century American screenwriters
Category:African-American male comedians
Category:African-American male writers
Category:African-American screenwriters
Category:African-American stand-up comedians
Category:African-American television writers
Category:American comedy writers
Category:American male comedians
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male screenwriters
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male television writers
Category:American stand-up comedians
Category:American sketch comedians
Category:American television writers
Category:Comedians from Manhattan
Category:Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni
Category:People from the Lower East Side
Category:Screenwriters from New York (state)
Category:Television producers from New York City
Category:Television producers from New York (state)