Hollywood "meet-cutes" usually happen on a glossy film set or under the flashing lights of a premiere. But for Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost, it started in a basement office in Midtown Manhattan.
And no, they didn't fall in love at first sight. Honestly, it took over a decade for the spark to actually catch fire.
When people think of the Scarlett Johansson Colin Jost SNL connection, they usually picture the PDA-filled "goodnights" at the end of a recent episode. But their history is way more layered than a simple 30 Rock romance. It’s a story of different memories, bad haircuts, and the kind of slow-burn timing that usually only happens in Nora Ephron movies.
The 2006 Meeting: Two Totally Different Memories
They first crossed paths in January 2006. Scarlett was the 21-year-old "it" girl of cinema, fresh off The Prestige. Colin was a 23-year-old "shaggy" (his words) writer who had just started his first year at Saturday Night Live.
Here's the funny thing: they don't even agree on when they actually met.
In his memoir, A Very Punchable Face, Colin describes being intimidated by her. He remembers her being "beautiful, smart, and sweet." In his head, the power dynamic was laughable—she was a global superstar, and he was basically a kid in the writer's room.
💡 You might also like: Birth Date of Pope Francis: Why Dec 17 Still Matters for the Church
Scarlett? She doesn't really remember him from 2006.
She credits a 2010 sketch for her first real memory of him. Colin had written a "16 and Pregnant" parody. Scarlett recalls him being "cute" but "slovenly." It wasn't exactly a romantic thunderbolt.
Why the Scarlett Johansson Colin Jost SNL Connection Took 11 Years
Timing is everything. Between that 2006 meeting and their eventual 2017 romance, both lived entire lives. Scarlett married Ryan Reynolds (2008–2011) and later Romain Dauriac (2014–2017). She became a mother to her daughter, Rose.
Colin, meanwhile, rose through the ranks at SNL, eventually becoming the co-anchor of Weekend Update.
It wasn't until May 2017—just as Scarlett was finalizing her second divorce—that she returned to host the Season 42 finale. This is where the rumors shifted from "blind items" to "front-page news." They were spotted making out at the after-party.
📖 Related: Kanye West Black Head Mask: Why Ye Stopped Showing His Face
Kate McKinnon reportedly played matchmaker, setting them up on a proper date a few weeks before that finale. Sometimes you need a friend to point out what’s right in front of you.
Turning the Relationship "SNL Official"
Unlike many A-list couples who hide behind PR statements, Scarlett and Colin used the show that brought them together to tell the world.
- September 2017: Colin finally cracks. On the Emmys red carpet, he tells Entertainment Tonight that he’s "very happy" and that Scarlett is "pretty awesome."
- December 2017: The "Ice Skating" Reveal. During the SNL goodnights at Rockefeller Center, the two were seen holding hands and skating together. It was the ultimate New York City hard launch.
- December 2019: The Monologue. Hosting for the sixth time, Scarlett stood on that iconic stage and called Colin the "love of my life."
Marriage, Babies, and Secret Ceremonies
By the time 2020 rolled around, the world had changed. The couple got engaged in 2019—Scarlett’s ring is an 11-carat light brown diamond that’s worth a cool $450,000—but their wedding was anything but flashy.
They got married in October 2020 at their home in Palisades, New York. Because of the pandemic, it was a tiny "minimony."
They used the announcement to do something actually useful. Instead of selling photos to a magazine, they had the charity Meals on Wheels America break the news on Instagram. It was a class act.
👉 See also: Nicole Kidman with bangs: Why the actress just brought back her most iconic look
Then came Cosmo. In August 2021, Colin confirmed on Instagram that they had welcomed a son. He joked that his Weekend Update partner Michael Che was their publicist for any further inquiries.
The "Joke Swap" Dynamic: Why They Actually Work
If you watch SNL, you know the annual "Joke Swap." Michael Che writes the most offensive, career-ending jokes possible for Colin to read, often targeting Scarlett.
Most spouses would be calling their lawyers. Scarlett? She thinks it's hilarious.
In the May 2025 Season 50 finale, she even crashed the segment to get "revenge" on Che. It highlights the secret to their success: they don't take the "celebrity" thing too seriously. Scarlett has often said that she needs to be with a "compassionate" and "funny" person. Colin, despite his Ivy League background and sharp suit, is fundamentally a guy who writes jokes for a living.
What You Can Learn From Their Story
The Scarlett Johansson Colin Jost SNL saga isn't just about famous people. It’s a case study in how relationships actually evolve in the real world.
- Friendship first: They were in each other’s orbits for a decade before things got serious.
- Support each other's "weird": Whether it's Colin getting roasted on national TV or Scarlett dealing with intense Marvel schedules, they show up.
- Privacy is a choice: Even with their level of fame, they managed to keep a pregnancy and a wedding almost entirely secret. You don't have to share everything to be happy.
If you’re looking to follow their lead in your own life, focus on finding someone who makes you laugh even when the "script" of your life goes off the rails. You might not have a 30 Rock after-party to go to, but the principle stays the same.
To dig deeper into their history, you should check out Colin Jost's book A Very Punchable Face—he goes into much more self-deprecating detail about their first encounters than any tabloid ever could. Or, just watch the Season 50 "Weekend Update" finale to see their chemistry in its purest, most chaotic form.