A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

If there’s one trait that makes someone well suited to comedy, it’s being able to take a punch—metaphorically and, occasionally, physically. 

From growing up in a family of firefighters on Staten Island to commuting three hours a day to high school and “seeing the sights” (like watching a Russian woman throw a stroller off the back of a ferry), to attending Harvard while Facebook was created, Jost shares how he has navigated the world like a slightly smarter Forrest Gump.

You’ll also discover things about Jost that will surprise and confuse you, like how Jimmy Buffett saved his life, how Czech teenagers attacked him with potato salad, how an insect laid eggs inside his legs, and how he competed in a twenty-five-man match at WrestleMania (and almost won). You’ll go behind the scenes at SNL (where he’s written some of the most memorable sketches and characters of the past fifteen years) and Weekend Update. And you’ll experience the life of a touring stand-up comedian—from performing in rural college cafeterias at noon to opening for Dave Chappelle at Radio City Music Hall.

For every accomplishment (hosting the Emmys), there is a setback (hosting the Emmys). And for every absurd moment (watching paramedics give CPR to a raccoon), there is an honest, emotional one (recounting his mother’s experience on the scene of the Twin Towers’ collapse on 9/11). Told with a healthy dose of self-deprecation, A Very Punchable Face reveals the brilliant mind behind some of the dumbest sketches on television, and lays bare the heart and humor of a hardworking guy—with a face you can’t help but want to punch.

My thoughts-

I have been watching SNL since I was a kid in the 90's. In the 2000's my favorite part has long been "Weekend Update", probably because it was dominated for a while by my favorite cast member at the time Jimmy Fallon and then another favorite Bill Hader, while not a host, became my favorite SNL Weekend Update recurring character Stefan. I was Skeptical when Colin Jost started doing update, but Tiny Fey and Seth Meyers had both transitioned from writing room to Update desk so I gave him the benefit of the doubt. I know a lot of people didn't like him in the early days, and even though it took him a bit to hit his stride (he just needed the right Update partner to bounce off of and that was Michael Che) I have always enjoyed him at the Update Desk. I loved this memoir. I didn't know a lot about Colin Jost outside of SNL besides his very famous relationship with Scarlett Johansson so it was fun learning about his days growing up on Staten Island and attending school in NYC, his college days at Harvard, and his various escapades throughout life. Some of the things that have happened to him sound like something that would happen in a movie to someone, not to a real life person (see the incredibly laugh out loud essay about Jimmy Buffet saving his life). There are also touching moments like the essay about his mom and her heroic work saving lives at Ground Zero during the September 11th Terrorist attacks. I loved the behind the scenes peeks about SNL as well. I thought this was an incredibly well written memoir. I would recommend it to any fan of Saturday Night Live.