Colin Jost Shocks Scarlett Johansson With Outrageous Jokes During SNL Tradition
During the recent Saturday Night Live episode, Colin Jost’s annual joke swap with co-anchor Michael Che brought laughter and disbelief, especially for his wife, Scarlett Johansson, who watched from backstage.
Since 2018, Jost and Che have upheld the tradition of swapping jokes during the show’s final Weekend Update segment of the year, reading lines they have never seen before, often resulting in hilariously inappropriate moments. This year, the stakes were raised as Johansson was present at the taping, leading to even more entertaining reactions.
The segment kicked off with Che jokingly instructing Jost to read all his lines using what he referred to as "Black voice," prompting concerned laughter from both the audience and Jost himself. "I’m so sorry in advance!" he exclaimed, barely able to contain his laughter. This comedic setup became the precursor to Jost’s unexpected jokes about his own marriage. The atmosphere was already charged with anticipation when Jost dedicated his following joke to Johansson, who had just turned 40.
“Y’all know Scarlett just celebrated her 40th birthday, which means I’m about to get up out of there,” Jost declared, eliciting laughter and shock from Johansson, who was seen nervously clutching her drink backstage. Unsure of what Jost was about to say, her expression turned from nervousness to delight as she realized it was all part of the comedic routine.
Jost continued, playing off Che’s previous setup: “Nah, I’m just playing. We just had a kid together, and y’all ain’t seen no pictures of him yet because he’s Black as hell!” At this moment, the show displayed a Photoshopped image of Jost and Johansson with their child, amplifying the joke’s punchline. The live audience, along with Johansson, reacted with gasps and laughter, the latter later hearing Johansson exclaim, “Oh, my God!” from backstage.
This joke exchange didn’t stop there. Che soon escalated the hilarity by making Jost read jokes about various controversial topics, including rappers’ personal lives. This back-and-forth leading up to the finale saw Jost delivering another zinger: “Costco has removed the roast beef sandwich from its menu, but I ain’t tripping. I’ve been eating roast beef every night since my wife had the kid!” The filled room erupted, and Johansson could hardly contain her shock, prompting her to blurt out another expletive.
Jost and Che’s playful exchanges have become highlights on SNL, particularly during the holiday season when expectations for humor peak. The willingness of both to push comedic boundaries has attracted both acclaim and controversy over the years. Jost, who married Johansson in 2020 after meeting her when she hosted SNL, often finds himself walking the tightrope between personal and public humor, especially as he navigates the dual identity of husband and comedian.
This year’s joke swap adeptly navigated topics around race, family, and personal relationships, drawing attention to how comedians can address sensitive subjects with humor without crossing the line. Jost expressed moments of genuine laughter and discomfort, embodying the excitement of live television. “She’s so genuinely worried!” he amusingly remarked during the segment, showcasing his awareness of how his humor could resonate back to Johansson.
Johansson, who has appeared on SNL multiple times, shared insights about the pressure she feels watching Jost live on air, admitting, “I now rarely watch without having...a slight underwhelming panic,” stemming from the unpredictable nature of Jost’s comedic material. It’s this dynamic interplay between live performance and personal stakes—which she characterized as both exhilarating and unnerving—that makes SNL's joke swaps memorable.
Saturday Night Live continues to embrace the volatile nature of live comedy, with Jost and Che’s joke swaps serving as many fans’ favorite traditions. The unscripted moments capture hilarity with boldness, showing how at the heart of their humor lies friendship—and perhaps, just maybe, mutual respect for each other’s comedic talents, no matter how shocking the topics may be.
The segment aired as part of SNL’s holiday special leading up to their break, thrilling viewers eager for comedic content and highlighting the humor found within personal relationships brought to the public stage. Jost and Che once again proved their comedic prowess, and with Johansson’s warm-hearted reactions, the evening became not just about jokes but also about shared experiences and family humor, both of which resonate widely with audiences.
