SNL cold open, Matt Damon returns as Brett Kavanaugh

tvMay 10, 2026461,558

Matt Damon hosted Saturday Night Live and reprised his Brett Kavanaugh impersonation in the cold open. The sketch paired Damon with Aziz Ansari as Kash Patel and staged a comedic puppet dance. Writers scored the bit to a Chumbawamba track and leaned into caricatures of Kavanaugh’s courtroom theatrics and loyal allies. The sketch matters because it brings a major film star back to SNL’s political satire and mocks recent Republican figures through broad, memorable physical comedy.

Craig R. Brittain

@craigbrittain.com

Pete Hegseth, Brett Kavanaugh and Kash Patel walk into a bar (SNL)

35990d ago

Emmyrose12

The clowns in the WH FBI and Supreme Court write their own comedy. Brilliant SNL

foglightmj.bsky.social7

Totally gutsy cold open. And way too real.

ABOLISH ICE NOW!4

ALL THREE NAILED it. Ansari: does this bar take KASH?!! 👏😆🔥

normal66.bsky.social3

so good it was scary

margot-and-hamish2.bsky.social2

I'm just surprised that you can joke about it but then I'm not American. Just get rid of Trump will you?

🌙 𝕹𝖎𝖙𝖊-𝕺𝖜𝖑🦉2

Jeeeeeeeezus. What’s the name of the emotion that’s both terrified and apathetically numb? Watching American history unfold is like being strapped to the passenger seat of a car being driven by an insane old man while rich people mumble directions from the back seat as they count their money.

Aunt Tifa2

Matt Damon is a national treasure 😂

Karen Dalton Beninato

@kbeninato.bsky.social

Pete Hegseth, Brett Kavanaugh and Ka$h Patel getting blotto in DC. Though nothing #SNL writes could be broader than what we're living through.

17190d ago

Tom Brazelton

@tombrazelton.bsky.social

Kind of unfortunate that Jermey Culhane’s Tucker Carlson impersonation is so good right when the dude is losing cultural relevance. Wait. No. That’s okay. #SNL

13090d ago

Inyalowda2

Comedy's loss is America's gain.

Rob

@lowermainlandrob.bsky.social

Michael Che has the #SNL #WeekendUpdate joke of the week this week.

9890d ago

LateNighter

@latenightercom.bsky.social

SNL brings back Matt Damon's Brett Kavanaugh for drinks with Hegseth

8690d ago

@jjman920.bsky.social

Just before #SNL started, I was telling a friend how Damon portrayed Justice Kavanaugh back during his confirmation like eight years ago and wondered if he'd reprise that role in the cold open given what's been going on...and then there he is. Love when I call it.

11690d ago

Blue Virginia

@bluevirginia.bsky.social

SNL’s “cold open” last night had “Brett Kavanaugh (Matt Damon), Pete Hegseth (Colin Jost) and Kash Patel (Aziz Ansari) discuss current events over drinks at a bar.” LOL bluevirginia.us/2026/05/sund...

SNL: “Brett Kavanaugh (Matt Damon), Pete Hegseth (Colin Jost) and Kash Patel (Aziz Ansari) discuss current events over drinks at a bar.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N68NjL9cMA

8490d ago

Matt Mitovich

@mattmitovich.bsky.social

"Kash Patel Whiskey: So strong, you won't be able to see straight!" —"Weekend Update," #SNL

5590d ago

Amy Worden

@newsy1.bsky.social

#SNL cold open features real DC institution Martin’s Tavern as the secret watering hole for Hegseth, Kavanaugh and Patel.

4690d ago

Darcy Farrow 🥀🔞

@msdarcyfarrow.bsky.social

~ i won't find a side by side parallel to do it justice but it hit me like a ton of bricks a minute ago that Ashley Padilla looks a lot like Martha Plimpton. It could've been a blonde wig & glasses that made me see it but it's also voice and mannerism. Now I can't unsee it. #SNL