Pete Davidson recalled his audition for “Saturday Night Live” over ten years ago, admitting he was unaware that the show was still running.
During a recent interview on “The Breakfast Club,” the 31-year-old comedian reflected on his 2014 experience with “SNL.” “I was really fortunate,” he shared. “Young and pretty naive, I just planned to smoke some weed and share my life experiences.”
Davidson, known for “The King of Staten Island,” wasn’t a regular viewer of Lorne Michaels’ shows, which made it hard for him to discuss favorite sketches or cast members. “I liked ‘Californians’ among others,” he noted, laughing as he described rushing to the bathroom to check out old clips on YouTube back then. “But honestly, I was clueless.”
He also mentioned the difficulties in connecting with older cast members like Colin Jost and Michael Che, given the noticeable age difference. “It wasn’t that I wasn’t putting in effort, but I had only been doing comedy for a few years,” he explained recently. “People thought of me like this kid from Staten Island, but I was actually a decade older than what they assumed.”
After eight seasons on “SNL,” Davidson left the show in 2022 but made a cameo at its 50th anniversary special in February. He described that event as “terrifying,” saying, “The audience can be pretty rough; a lot of famous folks just care about themselves.”
Yet, he did have positive remarks about prominent guests like Meryl Streep. “I saw Meryl Streep and thought, ‘This can’t be real.’ When I approached her, I had to say, ‘I’m sorry, but you’re the best.’ She was really gracious.”
Despite his critiques of the anniversary audience, Davidson acknowledged that “SNL” instilled a newfound respect for the art of comedy. “It’s like the Harvard of comedy,” he concluded.
