With the SNL Season 51 finale only hours away, we're looking back at 'Weekend Update' anchors Michael Che and Colin Jost's 'Joke Swaps.'
With the SNL Season 51 finale only hours away, we're looking back at"Weekend Update" anchors Michael Che and Colin Jost's"Joke Swaps.
" As SNL Season 51 ends, all eyes are on whether Weekend Update hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost deliver one more Joke Swap. The SNL Joke Swap tradition began in 2015 and became a finale and holiday staple, pushing Che and Jost into gleefully brutal bits. From 2018 through 2025, each SNL Joke Swap raised the stakes with sharper burns, riskier punchlines, and viral reactions.
With Season 52 questions looming, the finale could mark another classic Joke Swap or a final run for Che and Jost at the desk.wrap up its 51st season, the questions that have haunted SNL since its opening season return. Who's returning for Season 52? Who's leaving? Who will get bumped up to a full cast member?
Will"Weekend Update" get new anchors? Speaking of"Weekend Update," there's another question that the end of the season brings up. Willhave another"SNL Joke Swap"? And, with as long as the two have been behind the desk, could this also be their last?
With the answer to at least one of those questions only hours away, we're taking a moment to look back at the history of the"Joke Swap.
"painfully young-looking Che and Jost introduced viewers to the"joke swap" concept. From there, things pick back up in 2018, and you can check out each edition below to get you up to speed before tonight.was time for Jost and Che to unleash their annual joke swap – and were they able to top their past efforts? Oh, yes.
Jost warned the crowd when they began applauding the start of the annual event with,"You applaud now…" Because Che had Jost read his racially charged joke headlines about VP celebrating a birthday, and Costco roast beef – in a"Black voice.
" The jokes themselves saw Jost referring to Johansson as"boo," dropping a roast beef/oral sex joke, and more – all while the camera cut to Johansson's reactions behind the scenes .
Meanwhile, Jost had Che making the argument that Jay-Z was innocent and that Che frequented Diddy parties – while throwing in some. Of course, with this being the season finale, there was the crucial matter of Che and Jost's"joke swap" tradition to address. After Johansson teased"retaliation" in an interview that dropped before she was officially announced as the season finale host, we couldn't wait to see what would be unleashed .
"Lorne! Retire, bitch! Let me run the show!
" was how Che had Jost kick things off. First up, Jost had to tell jokes about CBS's Black daytime soap operaThen, Johansson came out for Che to"apologize" to, which led to a nice run of self-deprecating jokes . But then it was Jost's turn, and that included ending with Jost applying lipstick and telling Michaels that he would do"anything" to run SNL.
It was an exchange that has to be seen to be truly appreciated because we definitely can't do them justice by transcribing them.helping usher in the holiday-themed final episode of 2025, we were wondering ifJost and Che's"Joke Swap" would make its return. So, it looks like Che convinced Jost that they weren't doing a"Joke Swap" – only for it to turn out they were, leading to a very one-sided affair in Che's favor.
From jokes about slavery to child molestation to Johansson , it was brief but brutal – beforeServing as Television Editor since 2018, Ray began five years earlier as a contributing writer/photographer before being brought onto the core BC team in 2017.
"Kicking off TONIGHT at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT on MeTV, House of Svengoolie presents Paramount Pictures' 1968 horror film Rosemary's Baby. SNL UK host Ncuti Gatwa had some fun at Doctor Who's expense, including that Billie Piper regeneration:"I don’t understand it either.
"With Ronda Rousey taking on Gina Carano tonight, we've got a rundown of what you need to know to check out Netflix's Rousey vs. Carano. After a possible self-inflicted spoiler about Soldier Boy's fate, did the same thing happen to Homelander ? Here's our preview for tonight's SNL UK Season Finale, with host Ncuti Gatwa and musical guest Holly Humberstone.
"Kicking off TONIGHT at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT on MeTV, House of Svengoolie presents Paramount Pictures' 1968 horror film Rosemary's Baby. SNL UK host Ncuti Gatwa had some fun at Doctor Who's expense, including that Billie Piper regeneration:"I don’t understand it either.
"With Ronda Rousey taking on Gina Carano tonight, we've got a rundown of what you need to know to check out Netflix's Rousey vs. Carano. Comrades, your El Presidente previews tonight's AEW Collision! Darby Allin defends vs. Sammy Guevara, Willow battles Red Velvet, plus trios action and more! On the Roam creators Jason Momoa and Brian Andrew Mendoza discuss expanding on the first season's success, profiling artisans, and much more.
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