Matt Damon returns as Brett Kavanaugh on ‘SNL’ and gives moms a Mother’s Day gift

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As Matt Damon pointed out during his recent appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” it’s surprising that the star of this summer’s “The Odyssey” has only hosted the show three times despite a long and successful career. Interestingly, his frequent collaborator Ben Affleck has hosted the show five times.

It’s disappointing that Damon didn’t quite succeed as host, because he has all the qualities of a great one. He was engaged, fully committed to even the most ridiculous sketches, and brought a level of acting skill that elevated the humor and added genuine emotion where needed.

Damon not only appeared in a sketch, but also kicked off the show with a burst of energy by reprising his role as Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in the opening segment. He was joined by Aziz Ansari, who returned as FBI Director Kash Patel, just as he did last week.

Some sketches didn’t quite land, like a Godzilla parody that relied on Mikey Day repeatedly being surprised and spitting out his drink. The show found its footing when Damon played himself in a pre-recorded sketch about a movie designed for mothers. The movie’s plot centered around a mom’s dream: her kids getting along and a perfect marriage to Matt Damon.

Damon frequently appeared in sketches where he played an ordinary guy getting comically beaten up, often by surprisingly small opponents. He also took on roles like a stressed-out father in a quirky commercial, a teacher failing to get his class to dance, and a competitive auctioneer arguing with his wife (played by Sarah Sherman). His talent consistently brought a relatable sadness or frustration to these characters, making even the silliest scenarios feel real and adding a lot to the humor.

The movie “Odyssey” could be the biggest blockbuster of the summer. And if it is, hopefully Matt Damon won’t be too busy to host “Saturday Night Live” again soon, especially after doing such a good job this week.

Musical guest Noah Kahan performed “The Great Divide” and “Doors.”

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On Saturday Night Live, a sketch at Martin’s Tavern featured Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth repeatedly boasting about starting the Iran War and drinking, this time with Brett Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh, acting as a judge with a gavel, immediately ordered a round of six beers and three Jameson shots. Hegseth proudly declared he’d started a war, while Kavanaugh countered with a controversial statement about abortion rights. He then presented what appeared to be a strangely shaped map of Tennessee, which turned out to be his field sobriety test – a drawing of a circle. The conversation took a turn when Kavanaugh lamented the loneliness faced by men, just as they were joined by Patel, who asked if the bar accepted cash. Patel proudly displayed a bourbon named after him, exclaiming it was a real product he, as FBI director, had created. The sketch took a bizarre turn when Kavanaugh revealed the Supreme Court would allow Donald Trump to run for a third term, claiming Trump had altered the original Constitution with a playful “Psych!” The three concluded the sketch by drunkenly singing the song “Tubthumping,” shouting out their drink orders throughout the performance.

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Damon recently showed a preview of his new film, though he kept reminding everyone it wouldn’t be released for another nine weeks. He also shared some disappointing news: the annual “Saturday Night Live” tradition of featuring cast members’ mothers wouldn’t happen this year because of issues with Spirit Airlines. It turned out only Hernández’s mom was able to attend, after a question from audience member and “SNL” writer Jack Bensinger. Damon then filmed a message for all mothers, especially for those who didn’t receive a gift, suggesting they deserved a night out – and hinting his movie would be perfect for a date night in nine weeks.

Best sketch of the night: Do I hear best sketch of the night? Sold!

a scene from the crumbling marriage of two auctioneers

— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) May 10, 2026

This sketch, built around the idea of a couple (played by Damon and Sherman) having a divorce-inducing argument, was surprisingly effective. It relied heavily on the performers’ ability to deliver incredibly fast dialogue flawlessly, and they absolutely nailed it, appearing completely natural throughout. The sketch cleverly framed their fight as an auction, with the couple ‘bidding’ on issues like weight, infidelity, drinking, and their sex life, all while in front of their four young sons – played by adult actors holding up numbered signs. It was a daring choice for a live show, especially as the final sketch of the night, and Damon and Sherman pulled it off brilliantly.

Also good: Your mom will only make it through 23 minutes of this

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As a big fan of “SNL,” I’m always up for their Mother’s Day sketches, and this year’s was a clever one. They did this whole fake movie trailer called “Mom: The Movie,” and the premise was hilarious – it’s a movie without any conflict. The idea is, moms deal with enough stress, so why not just give them a feel-good fantasy for a bit? Ashley Padilla plays the mom, Rhonda Damon, and her kids – played by Jeremy Culhane, Tommy Brennan, and Veronika Slowikowska – only ever bring good news! And get this, Matt Damon is her husband, and their meet-cute involves him noticing her amazing turquoise necklace after a film. The best part? The trailer ‘streams’ on HomeGoods Plus – a perfect touch! It’s a really cute and funny concept.

‘Weekend Update’ winner: This ‘Update’ segment is bananas — the round kind

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This week’s show included three guest performances. Hernández and Day did a hilarious sketch as government-employed dolphins, complete with dolphin puns. Jane Wickline playfully complained about people noticing her tardiness in a funny song. But the highlight was Culhane’s spot-on impression of Tucker Carlson, which covered everything from the outlandish looks at the Met Gala and the new Michael Jackson movie, to a strange claim about banana shapes and perceptions of masculinity. Culhane truly nails the impression, and this time really emphasized Carlson’s tendency to make racially charged comments. For example, when describing ASAP Rocky’s pink robe at the Met Gala, he jokingly said the performer was “wearing my least favorite color… African-American.”

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2026-05-10 10:01