Saturday Night Live: Pete Davidson Navigates a Strong Start to the Season

Saturday Night Live Season Premiere Steers a Solid Start with Pete Davidson

A Dramatic Return for Saturday Night Live

After a tumultuous couple of years, Saturday Night Live (SNL) has made its highly anticipated return with a solid season premiere. The show has experienced significant changes, including a turnover in the cast and truncated seasons due to the pandemic and the recent Writers Guild of America strike. Thankfully, the strike has been settled, allowing SNL to resume its regular schedule, albeit a few weeks behind.

However, the ongoing actors’ strike may pose challenges in finding hosts for future episodes. Nevertheless, the show must go on, and SNL is back with a lot of catching up to do.

Pete Davidson’s Touching Opening

The season premiere of SNL acknowledges the gravity of the current conflict between Israel and Palestine by forgoing the traditional cold open. Instead, host and former cast member Pete Davidson addresses the situation with solemnity and personal vulnerability.

Davidson, who lost his father, a New York City firefighter, in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, shares his reflections on tragedy and comedy. He believes that comedy can sometimes be the only way through tragedy and promises to try to provide laughter amidst difficult times. Davidson strikes the right tone and handles the sensitive subject matter with grace.

Pete Davidson’s Stand-Up Monologue

In his monologue, Davidson showcases his stand-up skills, relying on his authentic self to connect with the audience. He humorously reflects on trying to bond with his sister by watching Game of Thrones and discovering the show’s unexpected content of incest. He also jokes about his hometown of Staten Island and shares humorous anecdotes from his personal life.

Although Davidson’s dark punchline slightly loses the live audience, his overall performance demonstrates his strength as a stand-up comedian and authentic storyteller. His monologue serves as a solid opener for the season premiere, reminding viewers of his comedic talent outside of sketch work.

Sketches and Cameos

The season premiere of SNL delivers a mix of hit-or-miss sketches. Davidson’s involvement in various sketches highlights his versatility as a performer.

In one sketch, Davidson eavesdrops on the cast making fun of his recent show, “Bupkis,” flopping. This leads to a parody musical number, featuring different versions of himself presented as characters. This soulful and introspective sketch showcases Davidson’s ability to delve into personal themes while maintaining a comedic tone.

In another sketch, the cast of a new Marvel show discovers the most popular internet searches related to their characters, with Davidson’s character facing the unfortunate result of being associated with a diarrhea incident during a Delta flight. This sketch plays catch-up with popular viral moments during SNL’s hiatus, providing a lighthearted take on a potentially embarrassing situation.

Additionally, a Mad Men-style law office sketch features Heidi Gardner as a foxy, flirtatious secretary. While the sketch initially impresses with Gardner’s commitment to her character’s catchphrase, it loses its focus and ultimately becomes chaotic. However, Gardner’s standout pratfall adds a delightful moment to the sketch.

A short film by Please Don’t Destroy showcases Davidson visiting his childhood friends, who also started their comedic careers at a young age. This nostalgic and heartwarming segment includes a cameo appearance by John Mulaney, further elevating the sketch’s humor and charm.

Weekend Update and Closing Thoughts

Colin Jost and Michael Che deliver their trademark Weekend Update segment, providing insightful commentary on social and political matters. The segment touches on recent troubling statements from Donald Trump and Chris Columbus’ perspective on Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Keenan Thompson adds to the comedic dynamics of Weekend Update as former football star and current head football coach Deion Sanders. Thompson’s chemistry with Jost adds another layer of humor to their interaction.

Despite the notable absence of coverage on Republican-caused chaos in the House of Representatives, the season premiere concludes with a solid bar-set sketch featuring Andrew Dismukes and Davidson as father and son eccentric characters. The sketch may be chaotic, but the cast members deliver their lines with skill.

In summary, while the season premiere of Saturday Night Live may not have addressed all of the current events, it delivered a cut above previous premieres. The inclusion of notable cameos and a mix of hit sketches demonstrated the show’s ability to entertain and engage its audience. Pete Davidson’s standout performances showcased his growth as a comedian and his authenticity shone through in his monologue and sketches. As SNL moves forward, it will be exciting to see how it continues to evolve and entertain viewers.