Jeremy Culhane portrayed Tucker Carlson on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update to satirize liberal politics and the 2026 Met Gala [1].
The sketch uses the persona of the conservative commentator to highlight the cultural divide between elite fashion events and populist political rhetoric. By blending high-society spectacle with conspiracy-style commentary, the program reflects ongoing tensions in the U.S. cultural landscape.
The performance appeared in Season 51, Episode 15 of the long-running NBC show [2]. Culhane's version of Carlson spent the segment attacking the nature of the 2026 Met Gala [1]. The comedy focused on the perceived absurdity of the event's liberal leanings, and the extravagance associated with the gala.
The segment also featured comedic contributions from Mikey Day and Marcello Hernández [1]. The two actors participated in a specific bit involving a “kamikaze dolphin,” adding a surreal element to the political commentary. This sequence served as a comedic foil to the structured rants delivered by the Carlson character.
Saturday Night Live continued its tradition of using Weekend Update as a vehicle for timely political critique. The production utilized the New York City studio to stage the impersonation, focusing on the specific mannerisms and rhetorical style of Carlson [1].
Observers said the sketch attempted to invent conspiracies surrounding the event to mirror real-world media trends [1]. The integration of Day and Hernández ensured the segment moved beyond a simple impression into a broader ensemble piece. The episode featured Harry Styles as a guest, further tying the broadcast to the intersection of music, fashion, and politics [2].
“Jeremy Culhane's version of Carlson spent the segment attacking the nature of the 2026 Met Gala.”
This sketch demonstrates the continued relevance of political impersonation in American satire. By targeting both the Met Gala and Tucker Carlson, SNL highlights the friction between the 'cultural elite' and the populist right, using surrealism to critique how information and conspiracy theories are disseminated in modern media.
