Peter Davidson

[lae]

Feb 20, 2020 10:20:45 GMT -4 Ginger said:

Lorne might also like the attention Pete generates for the show. Every time Pete appears in a single sketch, it's news. And when he doesn't show up, it's news too.

I think this is it exactly. He generates a ton of press for them. This is probably really harsh but I feel like Hollywood is harsh and SNL cares more about the publicity than they do his well being. I don’t follow Lorne closely enough to know what type of person he is though so grain of salt and all.

I know a lot of people don’t like Pete and don’t think he brings a lot to the table but I think he has a certain amount of charm. He definitely has severe issues and I hope he can get treatment and get to a better place. I don’t get the vibe that he’s a terrible person, just one who is struggling.

[Deleted]

Feb 20, 2020 11:22:35 GMT -4 lae said:

Feb 20, 2020 10:20:45 GMT -4 Ginger said:

Lorne might also like the attention Pete generates for the show. Every time Pete appears in a single sketch, it's news. And when he doesn't show up, it's news too.

I think this is it exactly. He generates a ton of press for them. This is probably really harsh but I feel like Hollywood is harsh and SNL cares more about the publicity than they do his well being. I don’t follow Lorne closely enough to know what type of person he is though so grain of salt and all.

I know a lot of people don’t like Pete and don’t think he brings a lot to the table but I think he has a certain amount of charm. He definitely has severe issues and I hope he can get treatment and get to a better place. I don’t get the vibe that he’s a terrible person, just one who is struggling.

I agree. And according to Tina Fey in her book Bossypants, Lorne is all about ratings. That's why he had Sarah Palin on. Because he knew people would watch it regardless of what they thought of her. He knows people will watch to see if Pete will be there or not.

I find this all rather sad because he was with Cazzie David for a couple years and they apparently had a solid relationship, when he was with her he gave her credit for getting him to go to rehab and stop smoking so much weed. He seemed pretty stable at the time and wasn't constantly missing episodes of SNL, so he is capable of keeping it together. I hope he eventually gets the help he needs.

[chitowngirl]

I never watch SNL anymore. But I tuned in for Eddie Murphy’s episode. When they ran the opening credits, Pete Davidson was the only name I knew, because of the publicity around him, not because of anything he’s done on the show.

ETA-I know Kate McKinnon too!

[Ginger]

Peter had some things to say:

“Saturday Night Live” sources have been snarling to Page Six for months that cast member and unlikely lothario Pete Davidson has been getting unfair star treatment — and Davidson’s bashing of the show Monday presumably won’t help to soothe tensions.

Davidson got time off to shoot the “Suicide Squad” sequel in Atlanta and was also allowed to skip the show for pal Ricky Velez’s wedding. Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator, “gave him the week off to go,” said an insider, adding that that is “unheard of.”

Plus, we’re told, Davidson doesn’t play a big role in the writers’ room. “Pete has a pretty cushy gig, to say the least,” said a source. “The cast isn’t into him,” said another. “He’s just there — he doesn’t add much.”

Monday, news broke that Davidson was ready to leave the NBC show, because “I’m literally painted out to be this big dumb idiot.” He said in an interview with Charlamagne tha God, “I personally think I should be done with that show because they make fun of me. They think I’m f–king dumb … I have a weird feeling in that building where I don’t know whose team they’re playing for, really; if I’m the joke or I’m in on the joke.”

[ratscabies]

I just found out he was making audiences sign a non disclosure agreement with with a $1 million fine.

I don’t care how big his dick is. Fuck that guy.

[Deleted]

I read a bit of the interview and he says really lovely things about his exes which got to me. I don't know much about him, but that showed some kindness and maturity to me. And, he was very honest about his mental health struggles -- his suffering is intense.

[Ginger]

May 31, 2006 16:49:26 GMT -4 ratscabies said:

I just found out he was making audiences sign a non disclosure agreement with with a $1 million fine.

A non-disclosure agreement which not only prevents people from repeating his material, but which bars them from making any comments whatsoever about the show in print or on social media. This was in the wake of him bombing and/or walking out of several performances because he didn't like the audiences. For someone whose standup is mediocre at best, he does not deserve to have anyone come to his shows.

When he tours with John Mulaney (who carries their shows and who is the one actually bringing in the audiences) he doesn't try to pull that NDA ish and I'm sure it's because Mulaney won't allow it.

This is one of those areas where he can't blame his mental health - he's just being a spoiled brat.

[Deleted]

I’m like ten minutes into his new Netflix comedy special. I can’t believe people had to sign a $1 mil NDA to watch this? He’s ripping on Louis CK, which is fine, but he’s just not funny at all. I feel like he puts no effort whatsoever into his comedy.

[Wol]

While I think this guy's an unattractive talent free ass hat, the NDA thing isn't his biggest sin. Standups have to work out their material in front of live audiences, usually at smaller clubs and shorter sets, and if enough people post cell phone video of their warm up gigs the eventual full length standup material is useless because it's already out there. It's similar to the argument Metallica used to kill Napster; if it's out there for free, who's going to pay for it? Personally I think it's ridiculous and no way in hell is this jackhole's materials worth $1 mil (now John Mulaney, OTOH..."there's a HORSE loose in the hospital!") but there is a perverse logic to the NDA.

[Ginger]

Mar 7, 2005 16:56:02 GMT -4 Wol said:

and if enough people post cell phone video of their warm up gigs the eventual full length standup material is useless because it's already out there.

It's now standard for comedy shows to require audiences to lock their phones into a Yondr pouch upon entry and it works. Bootlegged material has not been a problem for Pete. He got mad because he was getting into trouble for telling terrible and/or offensive jokes and routinely getting into fights with audience members. That's what he wanted to shut people up about.

ETA: For curiosity's sake, I watched his special. It is essentially a handful of anecdotes that a celebrity would tell on a late night talk show, with maybe a little bit of extra polish. It was just his story about how Louis CK wasn't nice to him and his breakup with Ariana Grande. It's not actual comedy material.

He told Charlamagne he did the NDA's to protect his material, not from cell phones, but from people taking notes and telling the NY Post. He even stopped himself during the Charlamagne interview from answering certain questions about his life because he didn't want to "spoil" the special.

And that right there is the crux of his problem. If somebody saw John Mulaney do his "horse loose in a hospital" routine and told the NY Post about it, would that spoil Mulaney's material? No. Because that routine is 5-10 minutes of well-honed jokes that only make sense when delivered onstage.

Pete's "material" is just him telling a few rambling anecdotes about other celebrities. So yeah, if somebody tells the NY Post about his one good Ariana Grande zinger, it would ruin his whole special. Because his special is crap and he's a crappy comedian.