Entertainment
Olivia Rodrigo hosted the May 9 episode of “Saturday Night Live,” with fellow New Englander Noah Kahan serving as musical guest.
SNL recap: Colin Jost, Matt Damon, and Aziz Ansari on the May 9, 2026 episode of “Saturday Night Live.” NBC
May 10, 2026 | 6:14 AM
2 minutes to read
“SNL” returned to the air for the 19th (and penultimate) episode of its 51st season on Saturday, May 9, with Matt Damon serving as host and fellow New Englander Noah Kahan as musical guest.
Damon was hosting “SNL” for the third time — though it may feel like more than that, thanks to his four additional cameo appearances over the years. Damon even joked about his ubiquity on the show during his most recent “SNL” appearance in 2024, when he was given two “Five-timers” jackets before former cast member Kristen Wiig was given her own.
In total, the Cambridge native’s legacy on the show spans nearly 30 years. He was first impersonated on the show by Jim Breuer in 1998, made his first cameo appearance in 2001, and landed his first host gig in 2002, helming the Season 28 premiere with Bruce Springsteen as musical guest.
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Matt Damon’s most iconic ‘SNL’ moments
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Matt Damon channels ‘Good Will Hunting’ in ‘SNL’ promo
Every episode of “SNL” has its ups and downs, but Damon’s May 9 episode felt like it had more highlights than most. Standout moments included a tight monologue (in which Damon recorded a personal Mother’s Day message), a commercial for cat litter, a “Mom movie” trailer, and Damon playing a fast-talking auctioneer in the final sketch of the night.
Elsewhere on the show, Aziz Ansari returned for a second straight week as FBI Director Kash Patel in the show’s cold open, bro-ing out at DC bar with fellow imbibers Pete Hegseth (Colin Jost) and Brett Kavanaugh (Damon).
Kavanaugh hasn’t been in the news lately, but Damon — who has played Kavanaugh on the show twice before — made sure to highlight the Associate Supreme Court Justice’s greatest accomplishments.
“Can you believe I ended abortion?” Damon said, to a high-five from Jost/Hegseth. “Your body, my choice.”
Check out the videos below to see highlights from Matt Damon’s episode of “SNL,” including Damon’s opening monologue, a pair of performances from Noah Kahan, and all of the characters visiting the “Weekend Update” desk.
“Saturday Night Live” Cold Open
Matt Damon Monologue
“SNL” Weekend Update Clips
Noah Kahan Musical Performances
Some of the Best “SNL” Sketches
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