If there’s one tradition on Saturday Night Live that never loses its power to shock, it’s this one.
Michael Che tricking Colin Jost into saying something he absolutely should not say.
And this time?
It involved Scarlett Johansson — again.
The Joke Swap That Keeps Delivering Chaos
Fans of Weekend Update know the drill. At the end of the season, Michael Che and Colin Jost read jokes written by the other — sight unseen.
The result is usually awkward.
Often hilarious.
And occasionally brutal.
But Che has developed a very specific specialty: writing jokes that force Jost to insult his own wife, Scarlett Johansson, live on national television.
And audiences know it.
You Can See It Coming — And It Still Works
The moment Che starts grinning, viewers brace themselves.
Jost, reading from the teleprompter, does his best to maintain composure — until he realizes what he’s about to say. His face changes. The audience reacts before the punchline even lands.
Then it happens.
Another joke.
Another insult.
Another moment where Jost is clearly trapped by the rules of the bit.
And that’s the magic.
Why This Never Gets Old
The humor isn’t just in the words — it’s in the dynamic.
Che knows exactly how far to push.
Jost knows he can’t back out.
And the audience knows Johansson is somewhere nearby, watching it all unfold.
It turns a simple joke into a live-wire moment of tension, embarrassment, and laughter — the kind of thing SNL does best when it leans into unpredictability.
Every pause feels dangerous.
Every reaction feels real.
Scarlett Johansson: The Silent MVP
Part of why these moments hit so hard is Johansson’s role — even when she doesn’t say a word.
Sometimes the camera cuts to her.
Sometimes it doesn’t.
Either way, her presence looms over the joke, raising the stakes instantly. It’s no longer just a roast — it’s a husband being publicly sabotaged by his co-anchor for sport.
And fans love it.
Social Media Reacts (Again)
Within minutes, clips of the segment began circulating online.
Viewers praised Che’s commitment to chaos, Jost’s willingness to take the hit, and SNL’s ability to still generate genuinely surprising moments in its fifth decade on air.
Many joked that Che’s real legacy on the show may be “emotionally terrorizing Colin Jost once a year.”
Others simply asked the obvious question:
How does this keep getting funnier?
Why This Bit Is Now SNL Lore
At this point, Che forcing Jost to insult Scarlett Johansson isn’t just a recurring gag — it’s part of SNL mythology.
It works because it’s real.
It’s uncomfortable.
And it can’t be rehearsed away.
For a show built on live television, that kind of authenticity is gold.
And as long as Michael Che has access to the teleprompter — and Colin Jost agrees to read whatever’s on it — viewers will keep tuning in, waiting for the next impossible line.