Colin Jost’s candid Instagram retrospective on Saturday Night Live’s Cold Opens unveils the show’s legendary pre-show jazz ritual, the brutal sketch selection process, and his favorite political satire moments—all while Michael Che’s deadpan “Shut up Jost” comment sends fans into a frenzy, highlighting the duo’s iconic writer-performer dynamic.
Colin Jost unlocked a vault of Saturday Night Live backstage lore with an extensive Instagram series dissecting the show’s iconic Cold Opens, a segment that has launched live broadcasts into comedic chaos for decades Parade. The former head writer, who helmed the show’s scribe squad from 2017 through 2024 alongside Michael Che, didn’t just reminisce—he quantified the madness, estimating he’s penned roughly 100 Cold Opens during his tenure. Che’s immediate reaction? A terse “Shut up Jost” in the comments, a succinct jab that sparked a wave of fan replies rallying behind Jost’s nostalgic deep dive.
The Cold Open’s alchemy begins long before the cameras roll. Jost detailed the show’s steadfast pre-taping ritual: a warm-up, followed by “like ten minutes of jazz” that sets an “ice-cold vibe” in the studio Parade. This musical interlude, unchanged since the show’s inception, is the final calm before the storm of live satire. Jost emphasized the feat of winning over a skeptical audience within minutes, calling it a unique challenge where “if you’re good as a performer and you’re good as a writer at being able to get that audience laughing early on, it is a feat.”
Beneath the laughs lies a ruthless creative filter. Each week, the writing staff produces 45 to 50 sketches, but only eight or nine survive to air. “It is so thrilling to see that your sketch got in, or so devastating to see if it was cut,” Jost noted, capturing the emotional whiplash of live TV production. This high-stakes environment birthed some of the most memorable political satire of the 21st century, with Cold Opens often defining the show’s cultural footprint.
Jost’s personal pantheon of Cold Opens reads like a history of modern political comedy. He highlighted a Season 33 Halloween sketch where then-candidate Barack Obama made a surprise reveal, a segment that showcased the show’s ability to blend holiday fun with timely politics. He also pointed to Matt Damon’s uncanny portrayal of Brett Kavanaugh and the infamous Sean Spicer sketches featuring Melissa McCarthy’s Pulitzer-worthy physical comedy, both of which transcended entertainment to become national talking points.
Ultimately, Jost confessed a piece holds special sentimental value: the Season 34 Katie Couric and Sarah Palin interview parody. “It’s nostalgic for me because it was early on for me as a writer,” he explained, crediting Seth Meyers as the primary writer with assists from Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. “I think it holds up in the whole history of the show as one of the best,” he added, underscoring how Cold Opens can cement a writer’s legacy while shaping political discourse.
Saturday Night Live airs live every Saturday at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC NBC fall schedule, a network home that has broadcast the show’s live anarchy for over five decades. The interplay between Jost’s reflective thread and Che’s dismissive quip exemplifies the volatile, affectionate chemistry that fuels the show’s writer’s room—a dynamic fans continue to celebrate long after the credits roll.
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