SNL's Colin Jost to Star as Dentist-Turned-Drug Kingpin in Peacock Drama Series

The comedy star will executive produce and lead the show based on the shocking true story of a suburban dentist who built a drug empire.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:42pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a diamond ring set against a dark, high-contrast background, capturing the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry.The untitled Peacock drama series starring Colin Jost promises to blend the high-stakes world of drug trafficking with the trappings of suburban respectability.Staten Island Today

Colin Jost, the longtime Saturday Night Live cast member and co-anchor of the show's popular "Weekend Update" segment, is set to star in a new drama series at Peacock. The untitled project will see Jost playing Larry Lavin, a respected Ivy League dentist by day who secretly ran a major cocaine trafficking operation on the East Coast by night. The series is inspired by the real-life story of Lavin, a suburban family man who built a drug empire behind the facade of the American dream.

Why it matters

This marks a major departure for Jost, who has primarily stuck to comedy roles and writing throughout his career. The series will test his dramatic acting chops and could open the door to more dramatic work beyond his long-running tenure on SNL. It also raises questions about how Jost will balance the new series with his commitments to the iconic sketch comedy show, where he has been a cast member for over 20 years.

The details

The untitled Peacock series will be written by Alex Barnow, known for his work on shows like The Goldbergs and the Power universe. Jost will executive produce the project through his production company No Notes Productions, alongside Barnow, who will serve as showrunner, and producers Rachel Kaplan and Jeff Grosvenor. The series is based on Season 1 of the Audacy podcast Wolves Among Us, which chronicled Lavin's double life as a dentist and drug kingpin.

  • Jost has been a cast member on Saturday Night Live for over 20 years.
  • Jost has been co-anchor of the "Weekend Update" segment on SNL since March 2014.

The players

Colin Jost

A longtime cast member of Saturday Night Live, where he has served as co-head writer and co-anchor of the "Weekend Update" segment. Jost is now branching out into dramatic acting with a lead role in a new Peacock series.

Alex Barnow

The writer-producer who will serve as showrunner and writer for the Peacock series starring Jost. Barnow is known for his work on shows like The Goldbergs and the Power universe.

Larry Lavin

The real-life suburban dentist who secretly ran a major cocaine trafficking operation on the East Coast, inspiring the true-crime story that the Peacock series is based on.

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What’s next

If the Peacock series is picked up, it will be interesting to see how Jost balances his new dramatic acting role with his long-running duties on Saturday Night Live. The show will also need to find the right tone, blending comedy and drama, to bring the true-crime story of Larry Lavin to life.

The takeaway

Colin Jost's move into dramatic acting with this Peacock series represents a significant career pivot for the comedian, who has primarily stuck to sketch comedy and supporting film roles. The project's unique blend of a suburban dentist's double life as a drug kingpin also has the potential to captivate audiences and showcase Jost's versatility as a performer.