Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out 196. Michael Che: An Amateur Therapy Session
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Dec 15, 2025 Michael Che, a stand-up comedian and co-anchor of Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live, dives deep into his journey from street t-shirt sales to the iconic SNL stage. Che shares unforgettable advice from Lorne Michaels about trusting his instincts and discusses the challenges of crafting jokes for live audiences. He reveals a funny incident involving Colin Jost and reflects on the exhausting yet rewarding nature of SNL. Che also offers insight into his early life, anxiety in comedy, and the importance of stage time for aspiring comics.
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Rhythm Matters More Than The Words
- Reading jokes differs from telling jokes because rhythm and word choice matter more when speaking.
- Memorize or internalize lines for cards to preserve the comic's personal rhythm.
Trust Your Performance Instincts
- Stop auditioning for a role you already have and trust your instincts when performing.
- Do what feels natural on air instead of trying to convince producers you're capable.
How The 'Joke Swap' Was Born
- Michael Che and Colin Jost created the "joke swap" to salvage jokes that died in rehearsal by recontextualizing them.
- They later made it blind, which pushed Che to overdo his jokes and shaped the segment's rhythm.