Returning to the familiar territory of Studio 8H after a brief hiatus, Pete Davidson, an iconic face from “Saturday Night Live,” graced the audience with his charismatic presence in NBC’s Season 49 premiere. The gap in the series, a result of the Writers Guild of America strike, made this return all the more anticipated.
Drawing inspiration from Ryan Gosling’s iconic “I’m Just Ken” music video from the “Barbie” movie, Davidson showcased a brilliant parody that pulled no punches. Through the self-deprecating humor we’ve come to expect from him, Davidson humorously touched upon his “butthole eyes” media speculations, the less-than-stellar reception of his Peacock show “Bupkis,” his journey through rehab, and course, the rollercoaster that is his love life. In a cheeky nod, he hinted at his skirmishes with the artist formerly known as Kanye West, leaving the audience in splits.
Adding to the ensemble were other talented cast members embodying various “Pete” personas. Mikey Day played “First Update Pete,” Bowen Yang stole the scene as “Met Gala Pete,” and Devon Walker brought life to “Black Pete.”
Paying homage to the original, the sketch brought back the vibrant pink ambiance of the “Barbie” setting and mirrored the choreography from the “I’m Just Ken” video. This video famously features Gosling’s Ken expressing his feelings about living in Barbie’s (played by Margot Robbie) shadow. Adding her flair, Chloe Fineman appeared as Barbie, driving her iconic pink convertible with Pete, only for them to experience a comedic mishap, prompting Davidson to exclaim, “Not again!”
But through all the laughter and jest, one thing was evident: Pete Davidson SNL performance proves he’s so much more than ‘just Pete’.