Aziz Ansari plays Kash Patel

Actor Aziz Ansari made a surprise appearance on 'Saturday Night Live' to portray FBI Director Kash Patel in a satirical cold open.

The sketch lampooned Patel's recent 'generational' overhaul of the bureau, which has seen 1,000 agents moved to field offices and a significant embrace of AI technology.

Ansari's performance also poked fun at Patel's public denials regarding his drinking habits and his ongoing efforts to project a 'cool' image on social media.

The appearance came as Patel continues to face scrutiny from congressional Democrats and some Republicans over his rapid transformation of the nation's premier law enforcement agency.