"Weekend Update" brought back its joke swap tradition on Saturday and, while Colin Jost's wife Scarlett Johansson was not a punchline this time around, the host nearly had his hair shaved off on live television.
The Setup
The wild moment was set up by Jost, who was reading jokes written by his co-host Michael Che. He advised viewers to try and "separate the art from the artist" as he discussed a new album by Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
"Remember, Ye can make awful music and still be right about Hitler," cracked Jost in a quip that aligns with the dark and edgy tone of past joke swap segments.
The Apology and Offer
He went on to apologize for the joke that was "offensive to everybody" by making an offer.
"I'd like to sacrifice the most important thing in my life: my beautiful, award-winning, world-famous hair," said Jost. The comment caused the audience to erupt in laughter as he appeared to break while delivering Che's lines from the teleprompter.
"That's right, I'm shaving it off. Send in the barber."
The Barber Arrives
A man dressed as a barber soon walked onstage and placed a cape around him, leading the crowd and Che to lose composure for several seconds.
As the barber pulled out a hair clipper and began to hover it over Jost's head, the comedian quipped, "Jerome, make me unpretty."
Che Intervenes
"No! No! No!" interjected Che as he grabbed Jost by the shoulder.
"You were really gonna do it?" said Che as Jost buried his head in the "Weekend Update" desk. "Man, you are the greatest comedian of all time."
Jost, relieved, laughed off the near makeover, saying, "God damn it, I was so scared."
