Michael Che

Michael Che

Michael Che at Citi Field in 2015
Birth name Michael Che Campbell
Born (1983-05-19) May 19, 1983
Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States
Medium Stand-up comedy, television
Nationality American
Genres Observational humor
Subject(s) Political satire, African American culture, pop culture, current events
Notable works and roles Weekend Update anchor, The Daily Show correspondent, Saturday Night Live writer

Michael Che (born Michael Che Campbell; May 19, 1983) is an American comedian, writer, and actor. He 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 and replacing Cecily Strong.[1] Che is also the first black co-anchor in the history of Weekend Update.

Early life

Michael Che Campbell was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York, the youngest of seven children of Rose and Nathaniel Campbell.[2] His father, a history buff, named Michael after Che Guevara.[3]

He was raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He graduated from the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.[4][5]

Career

Che started doing stand-up comedy in 2009.[6] He would regularly work several sets per night.[6] In 2012, Che appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman.[6]

He is a winner of New York's Funniest Stand-Up Competition.[7] In 2013, Variety called Che one of "10 Comics to Watch",[8] while Rolling Stone named him one of "The 50 Funniest People."[4]

Che joined Saturday Night Live as a writer in 2013, at first as a guest writer and soon after as regular writer.[6] On April 28, 2014, it was announced that Che would join The Daily Show in June as a correspondent.[7][9] Che made his onscreen debut as a Daily Show correspondent on June 4, 2014. Although he appeared in only nine segments during his brief time on the show, he was lauded by TV Guide for his work, in particular "Race/Off: Live From Somewhere", in which in response to the 2014 Ferguson protests, he continuously changed the location from where he was reporting his remote segment (with each change in location accompanied by a background change via the green screen), in order to ostensibly find a place where a black man would not be harassed by police officers, ultimately going into outer space. These are regarded by TV Guide as his signature segments on the program.[10]

On September 11, 2014, he was named to take over for Cecily Strong as the Weekend Update anchor for the 40th season of Saturday Night Live alongside Colin Jost.[1] Che is the first African-American co-anchor in the history of Weekend Update.[11] During his first two seasons, Che primarily hosted Weekend Update, while rarely appearing in any sketches, however, during his third season, after Che was promoted to the main cast and Jay Pharoah left the show, leaving Che and Kenan Thompson as the only male African-American cast members, Che began to appear in more sketches as well.

In 2014, Che appeared in the movie Top Five, appearing as one of Chris Rock's character's friends.[12]

Celebrity impressions on SNL

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
2013 Chinese Puzzle Un passant
2014 Lyle Threes
2014 Top Five Paul
2016 Michael Che: Matters Himself

Television

Year Series Role Notes
2012 John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show Himself Episode: "3.5"
2013–present Saturday Night Live Himself, Various Also writer
2014 The Half Hour Himself Episode: "3.2"
2014 The Daily Show Himself 9 episodes

References

  1. 1 2 Carter, Bill (September 11, 2014). "New Comic to Anchor 'Update' on 'S.N.L.'". The New York Times. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  2. ↑ Seabaugh, Julie (June 3, 2014). "How New York Comedian Michael Che Willed His Way to SNL and The Daily Show". Runnin' Scared; Village Voice. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Talking to Michael Che About Touring the World and Making Standup Glamorous". Splitsider. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "The 50 Funniest People Now". Rolling Stone. January 24, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  5. ↑ "City-Bred Comic Has His Heart in the Club". The New York Times. November 2, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Greenstein, Colette (February 20, 2014). "Comedian Michael Che talks stand-up, SNL writing gig". The Bay State Banner. Boston, Massachusetts. p. 15.
  7. 1 2 Busis, Hillary (April 28, 2014). "Michael Che: 5 things to know". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  8. ↑ Andrew Barker Senior Features Writer @barkerrant (July 17, 2013). "10 Comics to Watch: 'SNL' Writer Michael Che Hones Chops in Edinburgh". Variety. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  9. ↑ Hal Boedeker. "Daily Show names Michael Che correspondent". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  10. ↑ Rudolph, Ileane (July 27, 2015). "Alumni Association: A roundup of The Daily Show's coolest Graduates". TV Guide. pp 21-22.
  11. ↑ "Michael Che to Become First Ever Black Anchor of SNL's Weekend Update". Jezebel. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  12. ↑ Sandoval, Lapacazo (December 11, 2014). "Rock makes another hit with 'Top Five'". New York Amsterdam News. New York, New York. p. 18.
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