Scarlett Johansson relished hosting Saturday Night Live (SNL), and it wasn’t just another appearance for her, it was the epic closing act of the iconic show’s 50th season. Not only did she become the first woman ever to host the show seven times, but she also made it clear that this one hit differently.
In a recent chat with Extra, Scarlett opened up about the whole experience. “I felt really happy to be able to close out the 50th with the cast and crew at 30 Rock,” she said. The vibes behind the scenes weren’t just professional, they were personal. “There are real familial vibes,” she added. For Scarlett, this wasn’t just another job. It was a full-circle moment on a legendary stage, made even more special by the people around her, including her husband, SNL star Colin Jost.
She acknowledged how massive the year has been for the show. Between the star-studded 50th anniversary special and a season packed with strong performances, it was a heavy lift for the cast and crew. “It’s been an extraordinary year there… and a really successful season,” she said. No doubt, hosting that final episode felt like both a celebration and a mic drop.
And just when you think she might’ve taken a breather, she went full throttle. Literally the next day, Scarlett hopped on a plane to France to premiere her directorial debut, Eleanor the Great, at the Cannes Film Festival. “I think I’m still processing it,” she admitted. “Part of still processing it is that the next day, I left for Cannes, and now I’m here.” That whiplash from live TV to red carpets across the globe? Insane. “Maybe like two months from now I’ll be able to, like, have some perspective on the meaning of it all,” she said, sounding both overwhelmed and amazed.
Still, one thing about Scarlett that never gets lost in the chaos is her love for humor. It’s more than just part of her job, it’s a cornerstone of her personality and relationships. “My husband’s a comedy writer, and I couldn’t imagine ever being with somebody who wasn’t funny,” she shared with Collider. That’s a big statement, but if you look at her background, it makes total sense.
She grew up in what she describes as a “very funny household.” Her dad is Danish, and according to Scarlett, he has a super dry sense of humor. On the flip side, her mom is Jewish, and humor is a massive part of that cultural DNA. “It’s certainly a certain kind of humor,” she said, adding that growing up in New York gave her another layer of comic influence. All of that shaped the way she sees the world today. “I see the ironic humor, also, in terrible things,” she added. That dry, sarcastic, culturally rich humor is clearly something she leans on, both in life and art.
Speaking of art, her first go at directing came from a place of deep inspiration. Eleanor the Great isn’t just any indie, it’s a film that throws it back to the New York-centric cinema Scarlett grew up loving. “The script did remind me a lot of movies that I love,” she said, pointing to 90s and early 2000s indies like Living Out Loud, Crossing Delancey, and even some Woody Allen films. “It felt like the potential for that stuff,” she added, describing the intimate, neighborhood-driven feel those films offered.
It’s honestly wild how much Scarlett has going on right now. She just made history on one of TV’s most iconic stages, premiered her first feature as a director at one of the biggest film festivals in the world, and somehow still found time to reflect on how humor helps her handle life’s curveballs. Hosting Saturday Night Live might’ve just been one night, but it clearly meant a lot more to her than just another gig.
So yeah, Scarlett Johansson relished hosting Saturday Night Live, not just because it was a personal milestone, but because it marked the end of a huge chapter for a show that means a lot to her, both professionally and personally. With her directorial debut now making waves at Cannes and her passion for humor and storytelling stronger than ever, Scarlett’s in her zone, and she’s only just getting started.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
