'Saturday Night Live' wraps up season 49 with a fresh dose of controversy to their already explosive sketches as Colin Jost and Michael Che swap jokes on 'Weekend Update'.
- May 19, 2024
AceShowbiz - Throughout the history of "Saturday Night Live," the "Weekend Update" segment has given fans memorable moments that define each anchor team's tenure. For the duo of Colin Jost and Michael Che, their annual joke swap is a standout feature that never fails to leave audiences both shocked and amused. Far from being rehearsed, this crossfire of jokes pushes both anchors out of their comfort zones, as they only discover each other's jabs live on air.
This unique format has led to many an eyebrow-raising moment. Without exception, the jokes chosen are often deeply offensive and designed to make the other look bad. This year was no different, as Che seized the opportunity to poke fun at Jost's own wife, Scarlett Johansson, leaving Jost visibly uncomfortable and the audience in fits of laughter.
"ChatGPT has released a new voice assistant feature inspired by Scarlett Johansson's AI character in Her," a nervous Jost quipped. "Which I've never bothered to watch, because without that body what's the point of listening?" The palpable awkwardness for Jost was comedy gold for viewers.
The hilarity didn't stop there. During the same joke swap, Jost crafted a joke that all but threw Che into the middle of the longstanding feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. "I want to call up the biggest b***h of all, Kendrick Lamar," Che started, his reluctance apparent as he read the joke for the first time. "Your war with Drake may be over, but your war with Michael Che is just beginning. So to quote Hamilton, 'Shoot your shot, player.' "
The season finale took this tradition to an even more provocative level. In an effort to make amends for hiring a fake civil rights activist the previous year, Che brought in a real rabbi to sit alongside Jost during the bit. However, this didn't stop the controversy. Jost kicked off the segment by being coerced into delivering a punchline about pro-Palestinian protests, leaving him to say, "The only chant you'll hear from me is 'Free Weinstein.' "
The joke swap tradition of Colin Jost and Michael Che on SNL's "Weekend Update" isn't just about humor - it's about pushing boundaries and confronting taboos, all while maintaining the show's irreverent spirit. As these sketches continue to evolve, fans can only wait with bated breath to see what the next season will bring.
