SNL tradition gets an extra twist

Colin Jost and Michael Che revived their Christmas tradition on Saturday Night Live – writing jokes for each other to read out live on air, without ever having seen it before. 

The other tradition is that Che gets Jost to deliver some racially dubious material... which was made all the more awkward last night as he also introduced civil rights activist Dr Hattie Davis to sit next to him on the Weekend Update desk. 

In one joke, Che said: 'New York state now allows movie theatres to serve alcohol, which is how I’m finally able to enjoy my wife’s little art movies' – as an image of Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow appeared on screen.

He then tagged it: 'I’m kidding, honey. I love all of your movies. And if you ask me, you’re an even better black widow than Coretta Scott King.'

Dr Davis looked distinctly unimpressed at the gag, given Che had said she had marked alongside Martin Luther King.

However, all may not be as it seems, as there appears to be no record of a Hattie Davis as an activist online. Though whether Jost knew that at the time is moot...

The pair also offered the usual take on the week's headlines:

Published: 17 Dec 2023