In a recent and memorable installment of Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update," actor Mikey Day delivered a delightful surprise that left co-anchor Colin Jost, husband to the acclaimed actress Scarlett Johansson, in stitches. During a sketch centered around dating app frustrations, Day's character, alongside Chloe Fineman's perpetually cold girlfriend, dramatically unveiled a tattoo of Johansson's visage on his chest. This unexpected revelation ignited a wave of laughter from Jost and the audience, underscoring the show's knack for incorporating playful, personal jabs into its comedic fabric.
A Hilarious Reveal on the Weekend Update Desk
During a November 2023 broadcast of Saturday Night Live, in a segment of "Weekend Update," Mikey Day, joined by Chloe Fineman, took to the desk alongside anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che. The sketch revolved around Day and Fineman portraying a couple, with Fineman's character constantly shivering from the cold, prompting Day to shed layers of his clothing to warm her. As Fineman's character, in a comical exaggeration of her chill, dramatically declared, "This is what people on the Titanic must've felt like in the water," Day, feigning exasperation, tore open his shirt. To Jost's utter astonishment, a detailed tattoo of Scarlett Johansson's face was revealed on Day's chest. Day quipped, "Well, this is awkward. I have a tattoo of your wife and I'm sorry," eliciting an immediate outburst of laughter from Jost, who momentarily collapsed in amusement. Day humorously added, "I'm a fan! I got it before you were married! I didn't know I'd be taking my shirt off, baby!"
This isn't the first instance of Jost being the playful target of jokes concerning his famous wife on "Weekend Update." The show has a history of leveraging his personal life for comedic effect, often through segments where co-anchor Michael Che tricks Jost into reading unexpectedly raunchy jokes about Johansson, a tradition that even reportedly makes Johansson herself cringe. Just the previous month, Che delivered a humorous jab about Johansson winning a "Husband Carrying contest" during a news report on the UK's annual Wife Carrying Race. Prior to that, a skit involving a bar graph of Johansson's earnings humorously depicted a decrease when Jost's film contributions were added, leading to a bewildered and amused reaction from him. These ongoing gags highlight the comedic dynamic between the anchors and the show's creative use of celebrity relationships for entertainment.
The Enduring Appeal of SNL's Personalized Humor
This incident on "Weekend Update" serves as a vivid illustration of how Saturday Night Live masterfully blends current events and celebrity culture with personalized humor. The show's willingness to playfully prod its own cast members, especially Colin Jost, about their personal lives, fosters a unique connection with its audience. It reminds us that even public figures, like Jost and Johansson, are not immune to lighthearted teasing, creating moments of genuine, relatable comedy that resonate beyond the immediate joke. This consistent approach to humor, which often blurs the lines between their on-screen personas and real-life relationships, is a testament to SNL's enduring legacy as a comedic powerhouse that continues to surprise and entertain.
