SNL‘s renowned host, Colin Jost, has opened up about President Barack Obama and the connection he thought they would share. Jost was a writer at SNL when Obama made a surprise cameo in the February 23, 2008, episode. At the time, Jost hadn’t yet moved on-air as a “Weekend Update” host.
Colin Jost shares he thought he would bond with this President
Colin Jost recently revealed that he once imagined forming an easy rapport with President Barack Obama.
In a video promoting his return as host of Pop Culture Jeopardy! Season 2, Colin Jost fielded a question about the most famous name on his phone. “Probably the one labeled ‘wife,’” he quipped, referring to Scarlett Johansson, to whom he has been married for more than five years. Jost added, “I do have some really weird ones, though,” before revealing his favorite president.
“At SNL, you end up working really intensely with someone for like a week,” he shared, “And sometimes you almost feel like, ‘Maybe this person is going to be my best [friend]. Maybe I’m going to talk to Barack Obama all the time.’”
Obama may have never hosted Saturday Night Live, but he left his mark with multiple appearances. The most notable one came on November 3, 2007, when the presidential candidate appeared in a Halloween sketch. He first appeared behind a mask of himself, then revealed his identity with the line, “I have nothing to hide.”
Obama later filmed a pre-taped message in early 2008 about “keeping it cool,” and kicked off 2009 with “The Rock Obama: GOP Senators,” a cold open on the economy and bipartisan talks. Across his two terms, Obama became a recurring SNL fixture through taped addresses and years of impressions by Fred Armisen and Jay Pharoah.
However, Colin Jost revealed that the famous name he dials the most post-SNL is actually Jack Harlow. “One of my good friends, his name is Jack Howard, and he’s in my phone right next to Jack Harlow,” he explained. Harlow took on host and musical guest duties for the show’s 2022 Halloween episode.
