Colin Jost and Michael Che are back behind the SNL Weekend Update desk, and they wasted no time getting to work. Their first segment took on China’s Xi Jinping, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and a report that 20% of Gen Z have never had sex — all in one sketch.
The pair opened with Netanyahu’s UN General Assembly address, which drew protests over Israel’s war in Gaza. Che delivered the setup: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed an almost empty chamber at the UN after delegates walked out in protest over Israel’s war in Gaza.” He followed with the punchline: “I guess wherever Netanyahu shows up, there’s gonna be some relocating.”
The audience groaned, and Che shrugged it off: “Now why did I think that’d end in a laugh.”
Netanyahu’s Empty Chamber
Netanyahu’s speech at the UN was the anchor of the segment. Che’s line about “relocating” played on the idea that Netanyahu’s presence clears rooms.
Xi Jinping’s Visit
China’s Xi Jinping made headlines for visiting President Trump. Che and Jost treated it as a straightforward joke, working the contrast between the two leaders into the sketch without needing to explain who either man is.
Trump’s Helipad and Meta’s Muse
The segment also touched on Trump’s new helipad, Meta’s new AI agent Muse, and the Gen Z sex report. Each item got a quick shot before the camera moved on to the next target.
Tucker Carlson’s Movie Reviews
SNL split the segment into its own clips, and one of them featured Tucker Carlson (played by Jeremy Culhane). Carlson stopped by to review movies.
Dario Amodei’s AI Warning
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei (played by Jane Wickline) appeared separately. His task was to struggle through a scene reassuring viewers that AI isn’t a threat to humanity — yet.
The Gen Z Sex Report
The 20% figure is the headline. Che and Jost treated it as a light, absurd headline rather than a serious social observation.
The Week’s Headlines
Che and Jost covered a lot of ground in a single sketch. Here is what made the cut:
- Xi Jinping’s visit to President Trump
- Netanyahu’s UN address amid Gaza protests
- Trump’s new helipad
- Meta’s new AI agent Muse
- The report that 20% of Gen Z have never had sex
Each item gets a brief shot, then the camera moves on to the next headline.
The Clip Format
The clips are separate from the main sketch. They break out individual moments, which means viewers can watch Netanyahu’s empty UN chamber, Carlson’s movie reviews, and Amodei’s warning as standalone videos.
That structure gives the network a way to promote the segment across multiple channels. A single sketch becomes three or four pieces of content.
The Comparison Between Carlson and Amodei
| Segment | Subject | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Tucker Carlson review | Tucker Carlson (played by Jeremy Culhane) | Movie reviews |
| Dario Amodei warning | Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei (played by Jane Wickline) | Reassuring AI isn’t a threat |
The Bottom Line
Weekend Update’s return was sharp and funny. Che’s Netanyahu line landed well, and the segment worked because it moved fast, hit multiple targets, and let the performers play against each other.
The clip format means the jokes are available separately, which gives the network a way to promote the segment across multiple channels.
See the a run of 28 images at Mashable.
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