The penultimate episode of Saturday Night Live's 51st season opened in a quiet bar in Washington DC. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, played by Colin Jost, burst in for his usual drink: a shot of beer dropped in a pint of whiskey, which he called a reverse Irish car bomb. He expressed relief at being somewhere he would not encounter anyone from work, noting that none of Trump's people liked drinking as much as he did.
A Memorable Cold Open
Right on cue, Hegseth ran into Trump-appointed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, portrayed by Matt Damon. Kavanaugh ordered his usual: three Buds and six Jamesons, which he termed a six-three decision. The two celebrated their mutual accomplishments—starting a war and ending abortion, respectively—before opening up about their fears. For Hegseth, the fear was that the war in Iran would end soon, likening it to taking BlueChew and not having sex. Kavanaugh, meanwhile, felt lonely, missing his boys club, including names like PJ, Tobey, Squee, Gangbang Gregg, and Dr. William Cosby.
They were joined by FBI Director Kash Patel, played by Aziz Ansari, who arrived with a bottle of his personalized, self-branded bourbon. Kavanaugh revealed a secret: the Supreme Court was going to allow Trump to run for a third term. The trio celebrated by singing Chumbawamba's boozy anthem, Tubthumping.
As with past SNL mockery of buffoonish political figures, amplifying their buffoonery had the unintentional effect of making them more likeable. Jost's Hegseth was close to that point, where his alcoholism seemed more fun than pathetic. However, the sketch avoided mentioning the sexual assault allegations against both Hegseth and Kavanaugh, which felt like a missed opportunity for the show.
Matt Damon's Monologue
Damon took center stage for his third hosting gig, remarking that it seemed low considering he had been around for 30 years. After promoting his new blockbuster, The Odyssey, which was set to release nine weekends later, he wished everyone a happy Mother's Day. He broke from tradition by not flying in the cast's mothers, joking that Spirit Airlines had shut down. One creepy audience member was upset that Marcello Hernández's attractive mother would not appear, though she quickly showed up before being whisked away.
Offbeat Sketches Shine
In one sketch, Damon played a nonplussed Navy commander in a Godzilla movie. Every new piece of information about the giant monster caused him to spit whatever he was consuming—water, coffee, thick green juice, or runny lumpy yogurt—into the face of an unlucky soldier played by Mikey Day. Eventually, the rest of the crew joined in, leaving Day completely soaked.
Another sketch, Mom the Movie, was designed for mothers, featuring no conflict, suspense, or dramatic tension. It included appreciative kids, a clean house, and Matt Damon as the husband, with the understanding that most moms would fall asleep after 23 minutes. A sharp gag involved all characters wearing name tags so the audience could track who was who.
At a neighborhood cookout, three Italian wannabe tough guys, played by Damon, Hernández, and Kenan Thompson, traded stories about getting their asses kicked by an elderly man in a wheelchair, a parish priest, and their own wives and children. The humiliations became increasingly bizarre, with one forced to carry a quarter in his mouth for a quarter check, and another being captured and broken down until he became a man's dog. The audience was unsure how to react, but the cast committed fully.
Commercial Parody and Weekend Update
An advertisement for Tidy Care kitty litter featured crystals that changed color to alert pet owners of health hazards. Damon and Ashley Padilla's happy couple became unnerved when they discovered blue crystals, which the narrator reluctantly revealed indicated human urine. They first suspected their teenage son, then accused each other, creating an unsettling atmosphere with bright visuals and bouncy music. It was likely the best commercial sketch of the season.
On Weekend Update, Jeremy Culhane returned as conservative pundit Tucker Carlson to discuss the Met Gala. Carlson feigned confusion and peddled outrage, using his favorite catchphrases and squealing laughter. While Culhane had the voice and mannerisms down, his characterization lagged behind the real Carlson, who now focuses more on criticizing Israel and Trump's neo-con agenda.
Jane Wickline performed a new song dedicated to everyone she had made wait, with lyrics that were unapologetic. Unlike her usual songs, this one hooked the audience from the start. A clever gag involved introducing backup dancers who arrived after the song ended.
Damon played a substitute high school teacher who threw a dance party for his horrified students on his last day. Undeterred by their refusal, he danced alone until the song ended, then casually mentioned he might head out early and move to a different country. One furious teen, played by Andrew Dismukes, was revealed to be the sub's son. The sketch embraced cringe comedy, and Damon's performance as a dancing fool was perfect.
The episode ended with a scene from the crumbling marriage of two auctioneers. Damon and Cecily Strong played the married couple, arguing in fast-paced, alliterative auction speak. The premise was fantastically offbeat, showcasing verbal virtuosity.
Damon shined in this excellent episode, which was full of simple but surprisingly offbeat conceptual sketches. SNL would benefit from leaning more into this style of evergreen comedy rather than trying to keep up with cultural trends. If the show can stick the landing next week, season 51 will have one of the stronger back halves of any season in recent memory.
