Colin Jost’s Hair Takes a Hit in Weekend Update Joke Swap: Time for a Barber?
In a signature segment of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che engaged in their customary “Joke Swap,” a playful exchange where they read jokes written for each other. This memorable moment often features them targeting a wide array of subjects, from current events to personal jabs.
This week, the stakes were raised when Jost faced an unusual challenge: the potential loss of his “award-winning” hair. After delivering a series of provocative jokes, Che encouraged Jost to read one particularly controversial line, stating, “Ye can make awful music, but still be right about Hitler.”
In an effort to offset the risqué nature of the joke, Jost humorously declared, “That’s right: I’m shaving it off. Send in the barber!” Moments later, a barber appeared on stage, clippers in hand, prompting Jost to jokingly demand, “Jerome, make me unpretty!”
Just as the barber approached, Che interjected, incredulously asking, “You was really gonna do it?” to which Jost sheepishly replied, “I was so scared.” This playful tension saw Jost later donning a bald cap during the curtain call.
The Joke Swap itself took on a comically edgy tone, as Jost addressed Michael B. Jordan’s Oscar win with a troubling remark about racial stereotypes. He quipped that the key difference between a Black vampire and a white vampire was that the former “sucks dry … the welfare state.”
Meanwhile, Che tackled sensitive topics from the biopic *Michael*, reading a jarring line that proclaimed, “Michael Jackson did nothing wrong. He was right to molest all those kids.” He later joked about a personal experience with Jackson, adding, “That is not why I have that.”
This latest installment of the Joke Swap continues the long-standing tradition of Weekend Update, illustrating the comedic duo’s ability to navigate controversial subjects with humor.
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) May 17, 2026
