The season 50 finale of “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) brought back the beloved “Weekend Update” tradition, featuring hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che. The pair dived right into a hilarious dad joke exchange. They went back-and-forth cold reading the other person’s material, forming a pulsing tidal wave of very humorous exchanges that left the audience in stitches.
Michael Che kicked the segment off by thanking Colin Jost. In his acceptance speech, he jokingly said he couldn’t thank Jost enough. He even told a hilarious story about selling crack in front of the American Girl doll store. Che’s good-natured dig had already signaled that it would be a fun and casual interview. Together, he and Jost quickly riffed off each other’s material, creating a big laugh-fueled camaraderie.
Colin Jost, wearing a rather befuddled look on his face, started reading the cue cards. That’s when the segment took a hilarious turn as Scarlett Johansson popped out of nowhere. She was Jost’s wife, and her presence as guest host for the finale. When Jost mentioned discovering Che selling crack outside the Bronx Zoo, Johansson responded with a witty quip: “Yes, I have heard that about you.” The audience rolled into laughter and Jost jumped in, attempting to high-five Johansson. She had flirtatiously hip-checked him, leaving him high and dry.
Throughout the segment, Michael Che managed to deliver memorable jabs, including a bold comment directed at SNL creator Lorne Michaels. He jokingly encouraged Michaels to end his career with the memorable phrase, “Lorne… Retire, bitch!” This comment struck a chord with many viewers who understood that this continuation of the tradition of comedic jabs at the leadership of the show.
The comedic chemistry between Che and Jost was undeniable as they seamlessly pulled off their script swap’s punchline. The most cringe worthy, yet adorable moment was when Jost read a raunchy pun about Johansson that he’d written three months ago. In response, Che quipped about his insecurities, saying, “Maybe I’m just embarrassed about my own body — I can’t even take my hoodie off during sex because I have more nipples than a pregnant dog.”
Jost addressed a challenging single with Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. He declared, “I love Steve, I like Nick, I wouldn’t say I’m a Nick Kerr lover.” Their delivery had our audiences laughing out loud, highlighting the duo’s chemistry and their eagerness to jump over fences for a good laugh.
In the unforgettable actual moment of the swap, Colin Jost dropped a joke that silenced the whole room. It left millions of viewers believing that he had accidentally said the N-word live on air. His reaction—shock and laughter at the unexpectedness of it all—was the beauty of live television.
As the segment wrapped up, Michael Che delivered another quip where he expressed his dedication to the show: “Lorne… I’ll do anything to run this show.” This awesome comment really emphasized the good-natured tease and friendflirt that has long defined their working relationship.
