Only someone completely unfamiliar with the concept of Saturday Night Live could be surprised that the weekly sketch comedy show tackled the contentious hearings surrounding Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. SNL wasted no time getting to its take on the hearings, parodying them in the 44th season premiere's cold open.
RELATED STORY
What's more, SNL brought out the big guns, tapping Oscar-winner Matt Damon to make a surprise appearance as Kavanaugh. The sketch wisely excludes any impression of Kavanaugh's accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, instead focusing on Kavanaugh and taking aim at his heated testimony, among other things. Here are some highlights from the sketch:
Referencing Kavanaugh basically screaming through his real-life testimony:
"I'm gonna start at an 11, I'ma take it to about a 15 real quick!"
Referencing Kavanaugh's love of beer:
"I'm usually an optimist, I'm a keg is half-full kind of guy,"
Referencing the accusations against Kavanaugh:
"I'm not backing down ... I don't know the meaning of the word stop."
Other highlights from the cold open included Aidy Bryant as Rachel Mitchell, the Arizona prosecutor who Senate Republicans brought in to question Ford, and SNL all-star Kate McKinnon as Sen. Lindsey Graham.
"You put this man on the Supreme Court now," McKinnon says as Graham at one point during the sketch. "No vote, no discussion. You give him a damn robe and you let him do whatever the hell he wants. Because this right now, this is my audition for Mr. Trump's Cabinet. And also for a regional production of The Crucible."
Watch the full sketch for yourself below:
Later in the episode, Saturday Night Live referenced the Kavanaugh hearings again during Weekend Update, which you can (and should) watch below:
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional experience. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Eva Mendes Shaves Her Face Every Other Day: “I’m a Beast”
“My hair grows back if I get chills.”
By Samantha Holender
-
Hollywood's Next A-List
You may not recognize all of them...yet. But these 22 individuals have delivered some of the most triumphant on-screen performances in recent memory.
By Neha Prakash
-
The Ambition Issue
A celebration of striving for success in whatever's most important to you.
By Marie Claire Editors
-
Kim Cattrall Didn't See or Speak to Her Costars When Filming 'And Just Like That' Cameo
That's some type of commitment.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Documentaries About Black History to Educate Yourself With
Take your allyship a step further.
By Bianca Rodriguez
-
The 80 Best K-Dramas You'll Be Completely Hooked On
Wait, how is it already 2 a.m.?
By Quinci LeGardye
-
Selena Gomez Revealed Meryl Streep Is Joining 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 3
Fans are losing it.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Sophia Brown on Joining the World of ‘The Witcher: Blood Origin’
The actress opens up about the “surreal process” of playing the Lark in the Netflix fantasy prequel.
By Quinci LeGardye
-
'Ginny & Georgia' Season 2: Everything We Know
Netflix owes us answers after that ending.
By Zoe Guy
-
The Unstoppable Alia Bhatt
Bollywood’s silver-screen darling is both at the top of her game and just getting started.
By Neha Prakash
-
The Cast of 'The Crown' Season 5: Your Guide
The Mountbatten-Windsors have been recast—again.
By Andrea Park