Colin Jost mocks 'SNL' audience after shocked reaction to 'Heated Rivalry' joke

Heated Rivalry starring Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie has become a frequent subject for late-night comedy

Colin Jost turned a surprising audience reaction into another punchline during the latest episode of Saturday Night Live.

During the show’s “Weekend Update” segment, Jost and his co-anchor Michael Che joked about a viral photo shared by a passenger on Japan Airlines showing a strange airplane seat cushion design that included a wedge in the middle.

Che delivered the punchline: “A passenger on Japan Airlines posted a picture of a seat cushion on the plane that features a cheek-splitter wedge in the middle, which is very confusing because ‘Cheek Splitter’ is also the Japanese title for Heated Rivalry.”

The joke immediately drew a mix of laughter and shocked reactions from people sitting in the front rows. Jost noticed their exaggerated expressions and briefly stopped the segment to mock their reactions, imitating their stunned faces and calling attention to how dramatically they were responding.

The moment quickly became one of the standout bits of the “Weekend Update” segment, highlighting the unpredictable nature of live television. Jost leaned into the unexpected audience response, turning the crowd’s visible shock into another layer of the joke.

The reference also reflects how widely Heated Rivalry has entered pop-culture conversations. The hockey romance series, starring Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, has become a major talking point online, making it a frequent subject for late-night comedy.