The holiday season at “Saturday Night Live” is not complete without the much-anticipated bi-annual joke swap between co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che. This cherished tradition takes place during the “Weekend Update” Christmas show and during the final episode of the season, where each comedian writes jokes for the other that they haven’t seen before.
This year, the segment featured an unexpected twist as Scarlett Johansson, Jost’s wife, was present in the studio to witness the comedic exchange live. Jost dedicated one of his jokes to Johansson, saying, “I want to dedicate this next joke to my boo, Scarlett Johansson,” not knowing how she would react. After he jokingly mentioned her recent 40th birthday and made a quip about their relationship, the camera captured Johansson’s mixed response of confusion and laughter.
Che also prepared some surprising jokes for the segment. In one gag, he joked about their son, Cosmo, born in August 2021, humorously explaining why they don’t share pictures of him, which drew a gasp from the audience, including a stunned Johansson. Che’s final zinger involved a risqué joke about Costco’s menu changes that left Johansson in shock, prompting her to exclaim, “Oh my god.”
Throughout the segment, Jost didn’t shy away from getting back at Che, engaging in light-hearted jabs about various topics, including celebrity controversies. The banter dated back years to when Che made fun of Johansson in jokes shortly after their wedding.
Johansson has previously expressed her apprehension about the joke swap on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” humorously suggesting that both she and Jost might need to “go into witness protection” due to the nature of the jokes. She described the segment as “brutal,” admitting that the humor tends to escalate each year, making it a challenging experience for her.
This ongoing comedic exchange highlights the playful chemistry between Jost and Che, while also showcasing Johansson’s good-natured spirit in engaging with the humor directed at her.
As a hopeful note, the tradition not only entertains audiences but also brings a fun, light-hearted atmosphere to the end of the year, reminding viewers of the joy of laughter amidst the holiday season.