Overview
- Che told viewers the Christmas tradition was back even though Jost said he had been assured it was off, leaving only Jost to cold‑read Che’s jokes.
- Jost read provocative punchlines on race and church sexual abuse before a line about wife Scarlett Johansson that included, “Bitch, you’re having a hot flash.”
- An image of Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams punctuated the final gag, and Che responded on air, “Wow, Colin, I wouldn’t have done that one.”
- Show insiders cited by LateNighter corroborated that Jost had agreed with Che not to do the swap this year, supporting that the ambush was authentic.
- The joke-swap is a long-running holiday and finale tradition; last year Johansson’s reaction aired on the broadcast, and Che was made to apologize in the May 2025 season finale.