SNL Welcomes Taylor Swift and Domingo in Musical Cold Open

The latest episode of Saturday Night Live featured a lively musical opening that showcased host and musical guest Sabrina Carpenter. This segment marked the fourth installment of the show’s recurring “Domingo” sketches, which have become a unique staple of the current season.

The cold open presented a celebratory scene where the characters Kelsey and Matt, portrayed by Chloe Fineman and Andrew Dismukes, respectively, were celebrating Matt’s 30th birthday. Friends of Kelsey, played by Carpenter, Sarah Sherman, Ashley Padilla, and newcomer Veronika Slowikowska, joined in to serenade the birthday boy. The performance began with a song inspired by their recent trip to Nashville, set to the tune of Taylor Swift‘s “The Fate of Ophelia” from her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl. Notably, Carpenter also features on the album, contributing to the titular track.

As the sketch progressed, it humorously revealed that the character Domingo had made an appearance during their Nashville trip. The group then switched gears, performing a second number based on Lady Gaga‘s “Abracadabra,” which focused entirely on Domingo, described in the lyrics as “the man with a goatee and a gold chain.” Just when Kelsey reassured Matt that Domingo was a thing of the past, the character himself made a surprise entrance.

Portrayed by Marcello Hernández, Domingo launched into a cover of Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” declaring to Kelsey, “The night we spent together in Nashville was anything but ordinary.” The playful lyrics included lines reflecting on their past escapades, with Domingo addressing Kelsey directly, “I come in and out of your life / ‘Cause I respect that you are a wife.”

An exasperated Matt finally interrupted, telling Kelsey, “I’m serious, this is strike six,” to which she confidently assured him, “Hey babe, it won’t happen again.” This sketch not only highlighted the comedic talents of the cast but also showcased the way SNL continues to innovate its storytelling through musical elements.

The character Domingo was first introduced in October 2022, during a sketch hosted by Ariana Grande, who performed a cover of Carpenter’s “Espresso” centered around the character. Carpenter herself appeared earlier this year in another Domingo-themed sketch during the show’s 50th Anniversary Special, which included notable appearances by Martin Short, Molly Shannon, Pedro Pascal, and Bad Bunny. That sketch featured three songs, including “Defying Gravity” from Wicked, a nod to Grande’s role in the film adaptation, along with Swift’s “You Belong With Me” and Carpenter’s own “Espresso.”

As the series continues to explore new comedic avenues, the recurring Domingo sketches have proven to resonate with audiences, blending music and humor in a way that keeps viewers engaged and entertained.