Colin Jost's Unplanned Rise to Fame at the Weekend Update Desk of Saturday Night Live

When Colin Jost first started working at the "Weekend Update" desk on Saturday Night Live, the audience was difficult. A lot of people thought he looked cocky, maybe too sure of himself. others who didn't like him and others who used social media often sighed because they thought he was simply another standard white male anchor. But, contrary to what many people thought, Jost has not only kept on, but he has also discovered his own voice. He turned the fact that people didn't like him at first into a strong element of his comedy, showing that being able to take criticism can make you more popular.

I think it's interesting how a performer may change how people see them over time. This is an excellent illustration of Jost's trip. At first, it looked like he was trying to reproduce old "Update" anchors, which didn't help him at all. Jost always knew when to tell a joke and had great chemistry with his co-host Michael Che, who typically played the bad guy to Jost's straight-laced attitude. At first, though, Jost seemed a little generic. No one could have guessed how he would become the longest-running host of "Weekend Update."

The Unexpected Turn: How Colin Jost Learned to Laugh at Jokes About Him

His willingness to be the punchline made him funnier.

Jost has grown a lot because he is willing to be the butt of the joke. Some of his early jokes, like one about America being a roller coaster just for the rich, seemed a little out of touch. He said it with a smugness that made it appear like he wasn't in touch with the problems people face every day. Some people thought he was being rude when he made this kind of joke at a time when movements like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter were asking for more awareness of inequality. It was hard to believe that he thought about important things as anything more than material for simple jokes.

But Jost eventually found his groove by giving in to the public's need to call him out. He didn't shed his privileged image completely, but he did become a kind of pressure release valve. He became the target, and other performers used him to express their cultural issues. Sarah Sherman, who joined the cast in 2021, is the ideal person to bother him. She always uses what he says against him, making him look like a symbol of an outdated way of thinking that she and many others don't agree with. The more she adds, the funnier the conversations get, showing how good Jost is at taking it.

Sherman isn't the only one. Michael Che loves to agree with Jost's detractors when they say things that are true. Bowen Yang once duped Jost into calling him "Asian Cast Member," then seemed to be angry and said, "I set your butt up." Bill Murray even made a point of not include Jost on his list of the top "Update" anchors on the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special, which Jost saw. All of these insults come down to the concept that Jost stands for powerful white males, and making fun of him is a means to make fun of that idea.

The fact that Jost is willing to be the punching bag is what makes this work so brilliantly. Every sigh and pained look he gives shows that he knows what other people could think of him. This acceptance, which is startling, makes him easier to relate to. The title of his memoir, "A Very Punchable Face," appropriately sums up this self-awareness. I think that this change from being smug to being self-deprecating really made him a part of SNL history.

Colin Jost's Important Role as a Writer and Show Host Behind the Scenes

His work on Saturday Night Live has had a lasting impact that goes beyond the desk.

Jost does a lot more than just sit at the "Weekend Update" desk. He has been a writer for Saturday Night Live since 2005 and has been a co-head writer for a long time. Because of his behind-the-scenes responsibilities, he is always under a lot of stress, especially during huge events like the SNL50 specials. He has talked about how stressful those shows were, with much of the work coming together in the last week.

His status is further shown by the fact that he worked with comedic greats like Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy on these specials. Jost said that it was scary to write for Eddie Murphy. He also helped convince Will Ferrell to join a sketch just two days before it aired. This illustrates how important Jost is to the creative process of the program and how hard he works to get the best actors engaged.

The conversations regarding dress rehearsals versus live shows and how it feels when a sketch gets eliminated really demonstrate how hard it is to work at SNL. The notes that Jost and Michael Che write for "Weekend Update," which are sometimes just "that sucked" or a stick figure, show how live television works in real time. Mike Myers also said that he used to get sad when sketches were eliminated, but Conan O'Brien taught him to see it as part of the process. Jost has definitely dealt with these kinds of stress for years, which shows how strong and dedicated he is.

Colin Jost's Life Outside of Comedy: Marriage and Public Partnerships

His marriage to Scarlett Johansson adds another level to how others see him.

Colin Jost's personal life has become a common topic of conversation, in addition to his career as a comedian. People were definitely interested in his marriage to actress Scarlett Johansson, which took place in 2020. They routinely go to events together, including the launch of Johansson's new movie, Jurassic World Rebirth, where they clearly had a relationship. Johansson has talked about their relationship, claiming that they "talk to each other and laugh a lot." She said that Jost was shy and she was outgoing, and that they "always check in" with each other at the end of the day. This picture of a healthy and helpful connection makes Jost seem more like a real person than just a funny person.

His work with the Blue Moon family of businesses is also a new step in his public business. He not only starred in their "Nothing Outshines a Blue Moon" ads, but he also helped make the campaign with his production firm, No Notes. This move, which combines his unique humorous style with a well-known brand, shows how his creative and comedic influence is increasing outside of SNL. It shows that his charisma and wit work well in multiple media, which makes him more appealing.

Colin Jost's Lasting Impact and Surprising Success on Saturday Night Live

Colin Jost is now the longest-running host of "Weekend Update" on Saturday Night Live. It is an amazing accomplishment, especially because so many people doubted him at first. He didn't get there by becoming what people thought he should be. Instead, he accepted how people saw him in public and figured out how to use it to his advantage, letting people make fun of him. This understanding of himself and willingness to be open made him a beloved part of the show.

I can't picture Saturday Night Live without Jost at the "Weekend Update" desk. His relationship with Michael Che has become a defining feature of modern SNL. If the reports that he is leaving are true, I will really miss him. Colin Jost has definitely earned his spot in the history of comedy. His unique style of satire and his surprising rise to the top have left a significant legacy.