TV Guide

On Thursday, NBC announced that the hosts of the 70th Annual Primetime Emmys will be Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update" anchors Michael Che and Colin Jost, a choice that elicited a collective "uhh..." from parts of the internet.

Che and Jost are mostly fine as "Weekend Update" hosts, if rarely the best part of the show. But to have the first Emmys of the #MeToo era hosted by two bros with a history of making highly questionable jokes is not good for progress.

In Che's case, his perceived sexism is not even distant history -- last month he sicced his social media followers on Daily Beast writer Samantha Allen after she wrote an article criticizing transphobic language he used in a stand-up special. Jezebel noted that this was not the first time Che has reacted hostilely to criticism from women. Che is only 34, but his commitment to being offensive in his comedy by defending outdated things like street harassment is old-school. Jost is a better listener and less inflammatory than Che, but he had a transphobic joke fiasco of his own.

In one sense, it makes sense that NBC would give the gig to Che and Jost. Jimmy Fallon probably knows he's not the guy to host this Emmys either, and while Seth Meyers actually did host the first awards show of the #MeToo era and did a very good job handling the sexual harassment issue, the Golden Globes was maybe a little to recent to give Meyers another hosting assignment.

Even if NBC was insistent on keeping the upcoming host in the SNL family, why not give it to cast members Kate McKinnon and/or Leslie Jones? They're funnier, more famous and much more well-liked than Che and Jost (people who don't like Leslie Jones are wrong and bad). We're supposed to be pushing for equality right now. The Emmys hosting job should have gone to a woman. Over the Emmys' history, female hosts remain few and far between (a woman hasn't hosted the Emmys since Jane Lynch in 2011).

It's possible that NBC approached McKinnon, Jones or other options before Che and Jost. But in any case, people on Twitter were unhappy with the end result.

COLIN JOST & MICHAEL CHE ARE DUMB CHOICES SORRY BUT ?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!? #EMMYS2018

— KJ (@kierajwilson) April 26, 2018

Micheal Che and Colin Jost hosting the Emmys is my actual nightmare

— Katie Minard (@KatieMinard) April 26, 2018

Michael Che and Colin Jost will make great Emmy hosts, but with the political climate y'all really aren't gonna have some super funny women do the job? I can think of 10 off the top of my head who I'm sure would answer the call.

— B (@brxndxnsi) April 26, 2018

To be fair, plenty of people were excited about the announcement, too.

Yes yes yes yes I have never been more excited for an Emmys! Congrats @ColinJost and Che!!! https://t.co/eCf1D6Z9DP

— Abby Rose Mark (@Abbz) April 26, 2018

COLIN JOST AND MICHAEL CHE HOSTING THE #Emmys IS THE BEST NEWS I'VE HEARD TODAY

— dani! (@_damerons) April 26, 2018

Great pick! They are funny dudes! ðŸ'ðŸ»

— MEGGAN ANDERSON (@MegganAnderson) April 26, 2018

Listen, Che and Jost are capable of being funny and making smart observations. Hopefully they bring their A-games and don't say anything too gross. Most likely, their hosting won't be great, but it will probably be fine.

The 70th Annual Primetime Emmys air live Monday, Sept. 17 on NBC.



Other Links From TVGuide.com Saturday Night Live: Weekend UpdateMichael CheColin Jost