Summary (tl;dr)

Actor Matt Damon recently hosted Saturday Night Live (SNL), reprising his popular impression of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in a cold open sketch, while musician Noah Kahan appeared as the musical guest, driving significant online discussion.

Essential Background

Matt Damon first garnered widespread attention for his portrayal of Brett Kavanaugh during a memorable Saturday Night Live cold open in September 2018, shortly after Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearings. This initial sketch lampooned Kavanaugh's indignant testimony and alleged drinking habits, becoming a viral moment in the show's history. Noah Kahan, a popular folk-pop artist, made his SNL musical guest debut in December 2023.

The Full Story

On May 9, 2026, Matt Damon returned to host Saturday Night Live for the third time, with Noah Kahan as the musical guest for the second time. The episode's cold open featured Damon reprising his role as a boisterous Brett Kavanaugh, who, along with Colin Jost's Pete Hegseth and Aziz Ansari's Kash Patel, met in a Washington D.C. bar. The sketch humorously addressed current political topics, including the idea of a third presidential term and the characters' alleged drinking habits, concluding with the trio singing Chumbawamba's "Tubthumping". Kahan performed two songs, "The Great Divide" and "Doors," from his fourth studio album. The appearance of these prominent figures, coupled with the return of a popular comedic impression, has made "Matt Damon," "Noah Kahan," and related SNL keywords trend across social media and search engines.

Why It Matters

This SNL episode has resonated with audiences due to its satirical take on contemporary political figures and issues, particularly through Damon's celebrated impression of Brett Kavanaugh. The cold open's humor around political drinking culture and discussions of a hypothetical third presidential term taps into ongoing public conversations and provides a comedic commentary on the political landscape. Noah Kahan's performance as musical guest also draws interest from his dedicated fanbase and introduces his new music to a broader audience. The convergence of these elements highlights SNL's continued relevance in addressing current events through humor and its capacity to create viral cultural moments.

Geographic Location

• Studio 8H, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City, New York, United States (filming location of Saturday Night Live)