Pete Davidson hints he QUIT SNL as he admits he’s ‘ready to hang up the jersey’ on comedy show after seven years
PETE Davidson teased he might be quitting Saturday Night Live after seven years on the sketch comedy show.
The 27-year-old has been a staple on the show since 2014.
Pete discussed his career plans while joining The Hollywood Reporter for a roundtable discussion with fellow actors Ted Danson, Ed Helms, Lamorne Morris, Ben Platt and Chris Redd.
The comedian, along with his SNL co-star Chris, was asked about his future on the long-running program and if he might try stay as long as Kenan Thompson’s 18 seasons.
He shared that he’s definitely “good” with not being on the show for that long.
Pete continued, revealing: “I’m surprised I made it to seven. I’m ready to hang up the jersey. Kenan’s like f***in’ [basketball player] Karl Malone out there.”
Chris, who joined SNL in 2017, shared that he felt the same way as Pete and “would never do 18 seasons,” adding that he’d let Kenan “have that marker.”
Though he’s been on NBC’s late-night show for seven years now, Pete has been more focused on his film career lately.
In 2018, he had a supporting role in Netflic’s rom-com Set It Up, last year he starred in and co-wrote The King of Staten Island, and this year he’s part of DC’s new superhero movie, The Suicide Squad.
Pete will play Richard “Dick” Hertz, aka Blackguard, who’s a criminal with a decked-out combat suit that uses twin pistols as his weapons of choice.
The actor hinted that he’s given a lot of time to search out other opportunities because the SNL writers come to him with “so few” sketch pitches.
He added that he feels like had has “to do them all” sinc there aren’t that many.
“The thing about SNL is you really don’t have much of a say,” Pete added. “It’s just, ‘Hey, this is what you’re going to do this week,’ and you’re like, ‘Oh, cool.’
The comedian continued: “I do like the randomness of it and I usually play very dumb characters. So, it’s very easy for me.
“I have one character that I’ve done in my seven years on the show, which shows how f***in’ great I am. His name is Chad and he’s very dumb and every response is just, ‘OK.’ And I see a lot of myself in Chad.”
Despite being ready to leave SNL soon, Pete, who ended his engagement to Ariana Grande in 2018, shared that this past season has been one of his favorites, explaining that he’s grown up and changed a lot over the last few years.
“I was at a really different place a year or two ago,” he said. “I’m not exactly proud of how I handled or was handling things a few years ago.”
He continued: “Looking back on it, you’re like, ‘Ahh, come on, dude.’ Luckily a pandemic happened and I got kicked in the balls and had to sit with all of my immature irrational decisions.
“I was so happy when they said that SNL was going to come back because I was literally sitting with my own thoughts and I was feeling really bad.
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“ I was really excited just to work and see people and I had a different outlook for this season and moving forward.
“I think I’ve been able to have a lot of fun and I just really appreciate it — not working at all really sucks.”
During his breaks from SNL this past season, Pete would visit his new girlfriend, Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor, in the UK.
