Saturday Night Live just added a new cast member. An SNL spokesperson has confirmed that Pete Davidson, a rising 20-year-old standup who was named one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch this year, has officially joined the cast as a featured player. According to Deadline, Davidson is the only cast addition that will be made this season, while Mike O’Brien – who was promoted from writer to featured player last year – will leave his spot as a cast member and return to the writing room. Sasheer Zamata, Kyle Mooney, and Beck Bennett will remain onboard as featured players.
Here’s what Davidson had to say on the idea of big expectations from our interview with him this summer:
There are some things, like this Variety thing, where you get it and you’re looking back at people, comics who are hilarious, and you respect. And it’s a lot to take in, but I just try not to think about it or I just make fun of myself. I’m just like, “Yeah, but I suck.†So I try not to think about it because I think when you start thinking about it, things get — because you could have a bad set. Everybody has bad sets. It’s not a race. So I try not to think about it. Comparisons freak me out.
Davidson’s television appearances include Guy Code, Wild ‘N Out, Adam Devine’s House Party, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Check out some of Davidson’s standup appearances below: