Pete Davidson Asked Lorne Michaels to Fire Him After First ‘SNL’ Season; Michaels Said ‘It’s Going to Suck for Three or Four Years’

Following only a single term on “Saturday Night Live,” Pete Davidson expressed his desire to depart. In the recently released “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night” documentary series, the humorist disclosed that he petitioned the creator and executive producer of the show, Lorne Michaels, for his release.

During my first year, Davidson requested a meeting with Lorne, saying, ‘Go ahead and let me go.’ He expressed his feelings that he didn’t fit in and everyone else was too talented. At that time, he was still young, expressing himself like, ‘No one wants to be my friend!’

According to Davidson’s recollection, Michaels conveyed to him, “You won’t grasp it until your third or fourth year. It’s going to be tough for about three to four years.” Davidson, who ultimately stayed on as a cast member for eight seasons, agreed, saying, “He was correct!

Davidson first became a part of “SNL” at the age of 20, in the year 2014. He left the cast in 2022 but returned to host the show in October 2023. Upon leaving the series, he penned a farewell message expressing gratitude: “I had the privilege of sharing so much with you all and watching myself grow up right before your eyes. We’ve been through it all – the highs and the lows, the joyous and the challenging moments. I owe Lorne Michaels and everyone at ‘SNL’ my very life. I am eternally grateful for their support and guidance. Thank you for standing by me even when others didn’t, for believing in me when it wasn’t always fashionable to do so.

He went on to say, “I’m grateful for the life lessons, growth, and memories I’ve made here that I’ll cherish forever. ‘SNL’ feels like my home.

Later, Davidson garnered roles in Judd Apatow’s “The King of Staten Island,” “Dumb Money,” and his television series titled “Bupkis.

The four-part docuseries titled “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night,” which debuted on January 16 on Peacock, is directed by Morgan Neville. It provides a behind-the-scenes look at the audition process, the writers’ room, and other aspects of Saturday Night Live.

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2025-01-17 00:16