MINNEAPOLIS – Comedian Michael Che told an audience at a Minneapolis hair salon that he was leaving “Weekend Update” on the television show Saturday Night Live.” A Minneapolis Star Triune reporter dutifully took him seriously. It made a good story that went viral. Now, says Che: “Just kidding.” Che has co-anchored the “Update” news spoof with Colin Jost since 2014. At the Minneapolis salon appearance, Che said: “This is my last year. You know my tie is a clip-on, right? What man wears a clip-on tie to work for eight years. That’s embarrassing.” Later when the story went viral, Che said, uncharitably: “I’m not leaving SNL. I said it at a comedy show and some dork transcribed it and wrote an article.” He added: “To comedy fans: Please stop telling reporters everything you hear at a comedy show. You’re spoiling the trick. Also, I don’t prefer jerking off to sex. And I’m not actually buying a urinal for my house. Those were just jokes as well.” The brouhaha followed a show the night before at Winona State University. At Winona he didn’t mention jerking off, urinals or leaving SNL.
Che. Whose fault when a stand-up comic’s lines go bad?