Pete Davidson says he was experiencing big downer energy during “SNL50.”
The comedian was on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” on Thursday, and during the “Saturday Night Live” alums’ discussion, Davidson had a surprising complaint about participating in the legendary sketch show’s 50th anniversary special in February.
Oodles of famous folks were in the studio audience for the event, including Blake Lively, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Miley Cyrus, Pedro Pascal and Tom Hanks. Although some “SNL” alums skipped the star-studded event for valid reasons, plenty did show, like Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy and Martin Short.
Davidson was featured in two sketches during the special, one live and another pretaped.
“What’s more nerve-wracking?” Meyers asked Davidson of the two sketches he did. “Being on stage, or being in the audience [watching a pretaped sketch] while everybody’s watching?”
“As you know from SNL40 — terrible audience,” Davidson told Meyers, who agreed. “It’s a terrible audience ’cause it’s just famous people, and famous people only like themselves.”
Davidson, a celebrity himself, has dated a string of A-list stars, so some in Meyers’ audience seemed a bit incredulous.
But the “Pickup” star immediately included himself in his criticism.
“It’s true,” Davidson said. “I’m guilty of this!”
At this, Meyers chimed in: “I remember when the pretape was playing, you were the only one laughing.”
This prompted Davidson to burst out laughing and give the host a fist bump.
“We were like, ‘Oh, he’s coming in way too hot,’” Meyers recalled of everyone’s reaction to Davidson’s delight in watching himself during the special.
Although Davidson seemed a little bummed that he didn’t get to play a more “flattering” character during the special, he did say that being assigned to sit next to Meryl Streep in the audience was definitely a plus.
“Meryl rules!” Davidson told Meyers, explaining that no one in the audience at “SNL50” knew where they were sitting until the day of the event.
“I get to my seat, and I just look, and I’m like, ‘This can’t be right,’’ he recalled of the moment he realized he was sitting next to the Oscar-winner.
“It was Meryl Streep! But I just sat there, and I was like, ‘I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry that I’m sitting next to you. You’re the best.’ And she was very nice!”
