The final Saturday Night Live episode of the year brought back one of its most cringe-worthy traditions, and once again, Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson was caught in the crossfire. The show's infamous "joke swap" segment on Weekend Update returned, putting anchor Colin Jost in an incredibly uncomfortable position as he was forced to deliver brutally personal jokes about his own wife, written without his knowledge.
The Cruel Twist in the Classic SNL Segment
The premise of the joke swap is famously simple and merciless. Co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che exchange their scripts for the Weekend Update segment, forcing each to read the other's jokes live on television, with no prior warning. This time, however, Che revealed a devastating twist: he had written all the jokes for both sides of the swap himself. This left Jost completely defenseless, with no opportunity for reciprocal revenge, as the punchlines grew progressively more shocking.
The segment began with a few deliberately outrageous lines designed to test Jost's on-air composure. But it quickly escalated into deeply personal territory. A photograph of Scarlett Johansson flashed on the screen as Jost, with visible discomfort, read a joke that referenced menopause and hinted at his reliance on his wife's monumental success. The studio audience's reaction was immediate—laughter turned into audible gasps, capturing the exact brand of shocked silence the segment is known for.
Jenna Ortega Reference and Viral Backlash
The discomfort reached a new peak with a subsequent punchline. Jost read a joke suggesting he had a "backup" plan, which was accompanied by a photo of Jenna Ortega, the young star of Netflix's hit show Wednesday. The implication was so bold that even Michael Che, the architect of the chaos, appeared momentarily stunned. Che laughed and admitted he probably wouldn't have written that specific line himself, acknowledging the segment had crossed a significant boundary.
The humour in the joke swap does not come solely from the written material. A large part of the appeal is watching a seasoned professional like Colin Jost lose control on live television. His nervous laughter, pained pauses, and looks of sheer disbelief become the real punchlines. For Johansson, this is not a new experience. In previous seasons, cameras have famously cut to her backstage reactions when jokes targeted her, creating moments that spread like wildfire across the internet.
A Tradition of Embarrassment and Its Aftermath
Clips from the segment spread rapidly online, sparking intense debate among viewers and fans. Some argued the jokes about Jost's marriage to Scarlett Johansson had crossed an ethical line, while others defended the bit as the pure, uncensored chaos they expect from the annual tradition. Many commentators focused on Jost's professionalism and willingness to participate in a gag that directly targeted his personal life.
This incident serves as another stark reminder of the occupational hazards that come with being married to a key SNL writer and performer. For Johansson and Jost, one of Hollywood's most high-profile couples, public ribbing is seemingly part of the deal. For the show's dedicated audience, the segment proved that even after decades on air, Saturday Night Live retains its unique power to make viewers gasp, laugh, and immediately hit the replay button to dissect every uncomfortable second.
While Jost was helpless this time, he has had his moments of payback in the past. In a previous joke swap, he successfully forced Michael Che to deliver an on-air apology directly to Scarlett Johansson. The ongoing battle between the two anchors ensures that this tradition, built on mutual embarrassment and live television panic, will continue to be a headline-grabbing fixture of the show for years to come.
