Colin Jost to Star as Infamous Dentist-Turned-Drug Lord in New Peacock Series

The Saturday Night Live star will also executive produce the show based on the true story of Larry Lavin.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 11:35pm

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A dramatic black and white illustration featuring bold, jagged silhouettes of a dentist's tools and medical equipment, abstractly representing the double life of the show's central character.A new Peacock series dramatizes the shocking true story of a respected dentist who secretly built a major cocaine empire.NYC Today

Colin Jost is set to star in a new Peacock series that will chronicle the rise and fall of Larry Lavin, a respected Ivy League dentist who secretly built a major cocaine empire. Jost will also executive produce the show alongside The Goldbergs writer-director Alex Barnow, who will serve as showrunner.

Why it matters

This project represents a major dramatic turn for Jost, best known for his comedic work on Saturday Night Live. The series will explore the shocking true story of how a seemingly upstanding suburban dentist managed to become one of the East Coast's most elusive drug kingpins, living a double life behind the facade of the American dream.

The details

The series is based on the first season of the Audacy podcast Wolves Among Us and will follow Lavin's transformation from respected family man to notorious drug lord. Jost will star as Lavin, while Barnow will serve as showrunner. The project is part of an overall deal Jost has with Universal Television and will not impact his ongoing role on SNL.

  • The series is currently in development for Peacock.

The players

Colin Jost

A longtime cast member and co-anchor of the 'Weekend Update' segment on Saturday Night Live, who is now branching out into dramatic acting and executive producing with this new series.

Larry Lavin

The real-life Ivy League dentist who secretly built a major cocaine empire, serving as the inspiration and central character for the new Peacock series.

Alex Barnow

The Goldbergs writer-director who will serve as showrunner and executive producer on the Peacock series.

Jeff Grovesnor

The executive producer on Colin Jost & Michael Che Present: New York After Dark, who will also executive produce the Peacock series.

Rachel Kaplan

The La Brea producer who will executive produce the Peacock series alongside the others.

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What’s next

The series is currently in development at Peacock, with no set premiere date announced yet. As the project moves forward, more details about the casting, production, and release timeline are expected to be revealed.

The takeaway

This new Peacock series represents an intriguing dramatic turn for comedian Colin Jost, who will take on the complex and morally ambiguous role of a respected professional who secretly built a criminal drug empire. The show's exploration of the 'American dream' facade and the shocking true story behind it is likely to generate significant interest and discussion.