Saturday Night Live had its 49th season premiere over the weekend, with Pete Davidson as the host and musical guest Ice Spice. Pete was originally supposed to host the show back in May, but it was postponed in lieu of the WGA strike. The overall episode was okay, but Pete, who is always down to poke fun at himself, did an absolutely hilarious digital short called, “Just Pete.” It’s set to the melody of – you guessed it – the “Just Ken” song from the Barbie movie. It’s so funny, I’ve watched it several times.
He’s just Pete. Anywhere else he’d be a 3.
Former “Saturday Night Live” star Pete Davidson returned to Studio 8H this week as host in NBC’s Season 49 premiere (and the first episode of the sketch comedy series in five months, due to the Writers Guild of America strike). Davidson, the cast and writers wasted no time at all giving his, well, unique public persona the “SNL” treatment.
In a nearly shot-for-shot recreation of Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken” music video from the “Barbie” movie, Davidson roasted himself repeatedly, poking fun at his “butthole eyes” tabloid headlines, his poorly viewed Peacock show “Bupkis,” his trips to rehab and his high-profile girlfriends. He even addressed angry Ye fans who still call him “Skeet,” talking about the man whose “name I can’t say legally” while the screen flashed a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it photo of the former Kanye West.
Other members of the cast joined in as Pete’s various personas, including Mikey Day as “First Update Pete,” Bowen Yang as “Met Gala Pete” and Devon Walker as “Black Pete.”
The sketch meticulously recreated the pink plastic “Barbie” set and the choreography from the “I’m Just Ken” video, which sees Gosling’s Ken doll character lamenting his second-fiddle status to Barbie (Margot Robbie). Barbie, played by Chloe Fineman, made an appearance in the sketch too, riding in her pink convertible with Pete, who immediately crashed it. “Not again!” he said.
Oh well, he’s just Pete. But he’s enough.
I appreciate a good satire and love when celebrities have a sense of humor to make fun of themselves. There are so many self-deprecating references in there, too. I think the most glaring one is when he sings that people online still call him “Skete” thanks to someone he can’t name for legal reasons and then a picture of Kanye flashes on screen. There’s also a line about him buying a boat with Colin Jost, referring to their ridiculous decision to buy a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry and turn it into a nightclub. Pete also jokes about going to rehab “2 or 3 times a year” and acknowledges that time Barstool Sports asked if he had “butthole eyes.” And, of course, there’s reference to the one thing that probably makes all of this possible for Pete: his B.D.E. If you haven’t done so already, definitely check the video out. It will give you a much-needed laugh.
Photos are screenshots from YouTube and via Instagram/SNL
It was absolutely brilliant. It’s right up there with Tom Holland’s lip synch battle to Umbrella, in my head.
He looks like Austin Butler at that angle in the header photo.
This is so good! They did a totally amazing job on the entire thing. Love it!
🔥
Pete you have achieved comedy gold with this one!!
In the year of Barbie, this is perfect. His cold open was great too.
People always ask what women see in Pete and this is it, guys. The SNL cold opener where he showed genuine empathy and grace to this brilliant, hilariously self-deprecating segment is why he gets the ladies. And the BDE of course…can’t forget the BDE…
You nailed it!
Loved it! Thanks for the recommendation.
Ok, that was cute!