The primary Saturday Night time Stay episode because the finish of the months-long writers’ strike began with a somber message from the sequence alum Pete Davidson. He started his chilly open by referencing “the horrible pictures and tales from Israel and Gaza,” then rapidly addressed the elephant in Studio 8H: “I do know what you’re pondering—who higher to touch upon it than Pete Davidson?”
However nevertheless preposterous that premise would possibly sound, Davidson’s chilly open and his later monologue made the case for what entertainers—and comedians, particularly—can provide audiences in moments of disaster. The 29-year-old comedian reminded viewers that his personal life had been formed by a violent assault: When he was 7, Davidson misplaced his father, a firefighter who died on 9/11. “I noticed so many horrible photos this week of youngsters struggling—Israeli youngsters and Palestinian youngsters—and it took me again to a very horrible, horrible place,” he mentioned.
He recalled his mom making an attempt something she may to raise his spirits after his father died, together with shopping for him what she thought was a Disney film however was truly an Eddie Murphy stand-up particular. And although the subject material wasn’t applicable for a kid his age, the 8-year-old Davidson obtained to maintain the tape as a result of Murphy’s comedy elicited laughter in him for the primary time in a protracted whereas. “I don’t perceive it—I actually don’t, and I by no means will—however generally comedy is actually the one approach ahead by tragedy,” he mentioned, earlier than providing the SNL viewers an earnest reflection on the present’s relevance throughout such instances. “Tonight I’m going to do what I’ve at all times completed within the face of tragedy, and that’s attempt to be humorous. Keep in mind, I mentioned ‘attempt.’”
Although Davidson left the sequence final yr after its forty seventh season, he ended up being the right host for its much-anticipated Season 49 premiere due to how deftly he navigated the tonally disparate materials that the episode known as for. With alternately subdued and zany supply, he shepherded SNL by troublesome information, foolish hijinks, and a shock look from Taylor Swift. In a later monologue, Davidson pivoted from the heaviness of his chilly open to give attention to a extra lighthearted (and oft-repeated) characteristic of his youth: “Lots of people ask me—and by that, I imply two—is that this what I wished to do once I grew up, and no,” he mentioned. “I’m from Staten Island; my dream was to be a development employee. It was! You understand, hopefully work for a development firm for like eight years, after which, if I’m fortunate, fall off a ladder, sue the town for $6 mill, accept three.”
Within the sketch following his monologue, Davidson joined a number of forged members on a mock filming of Fox NFL Sunday. The crew of sports activities commentators tried to debate a recreation between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Jets with out specializing in the most important NFL information of the period: It certain does appear like Taylor Swift is relationship the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce. The sketch performed on the strangeness of the pop-cultural second, skewering the NFL followers who’ve responded with weird vitriol to the coupling and gently teasing the Swifties who’ve analyzed every “Traylor” transfer with all of the depth of, effectively, sports activities commentators.
Whereas the opposite Fox NFL Sunday anchors at the very least tried to maintain their fandom in verify, Davidson’s Kenny Ditullio joined the printed from MetLife Stadium, the place he stood carrying a pink sequined cowboy hat, pink sweater wrapped round his waist, and pink polo shirt coming out from beneath a crew neck. Devastated as a result of Swift hadn’t made an look on the recreation, he informed the others, “There was a rumor on-line she was coming to cheer on Travis Kelce’s brother, Jason, who performs for the Eagles, duh. However up to now no signal of blondie—I’m beginning to surprise why I’m even right here!”
Davidson’s willingness to lean into the character’s silliness, analyzing Swift’s facial expressions and gestures as an alternative of the particular recreation he was meant to cowl, was significantly amusing provided that the sketch ended with a cameo of Kelce himself: After Kenan Thompson’s Curt Menefee grew pissed off together with his friends’ refusal to debate something however Swift, he insisted that the present would carry on “somebody who truly desires to speak soccer”—and the digicam minimize to Kelce, who supplied a fast “Sure, please!” in reply. In truth, each Kelce and Swift appeared momentarily within the episode. Swift launched the present’s musical visitor (and her collaborator), the Bronx rapper Ice Spice, who introduced a delightfully youthful vitality to the stage alongside the Nigerian singer Rema because the pair of 23-year-olds carried out their new music, “Fairly Lady.”
However regardless of Swift and Kelce’s collective star energy, neither introduced as a lot vitality to the premiere as Davidson. His sketches had been the highlights of the night time, which noticed the sequence actually discovering its footing once more after an prolonged hiatus. “I’m Simply Pete,” a play on the stellar Barbie dance interlude, started with him giddily strolling the SNL halls with a cake that learn Excited For a Enjoyable Week! However earlier than he may current the cake to his colleagues, Davidson overheard them mocking his post-SNL profession. “Nobody cares concerning the work I do / I made a present with Joe Pesci too / And nobody streams however my mother,” he sang, despondently sitting on a re-creation of the Barbie set.
The whole sketch noticed Davidson making enjoyable of … Davidson, in vignettes that obtained progressively extra outrageous: “I’m simply Pete / Anyplace else I’d be a 3,” he sang indignantly, “However I assume I’m scorching for dudes in comedy, as a result of it’s an unpleasant trade.” The whole time, Davidson was totally dedicated to the bit. He was effectively conscious of his repute as an unlikely lothario, and “I’m Simply Pete” deployed his sordid private life to hilarious impact as a result of Davidson isn’t afraid to chortle at himself. Contemplating the remainder of the topics that the present tackles, it’s onerous to not need extra of that.
