Pete Davidson Told Lorne Michaels to Fire Him After His First Season onSaturday Night Live —Here's Why He Didn’t

Mar. 15, 2025

Pete Davidson (left) and Lorne Michaels.Photo:Bruce Glikas/WireImage; Arturo Holmes/WireImage

Bruce Glikas/WireImage; Arturo Holmes/WireImage

Lorne Michaelssaw something inPete Davidsonbefore the comedian had faith in himself.Davidson, 31, is one of many cast members who appears inSNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, the new Peacock docuseries looking back at the late night show’s storied past as the show celebrates its 50th anniversary.In the docuseries, which premiered Jan. 16, Davidson admitted that he was initially surprised to get hired for the show at age 20. After watching back his audition tape in the special’s first episode, “Five Minutes,” the comedian said, “It’s wild to see the hope in one’s eye.“When it came to his audition, Davidson “didn’t know whether to do impressions or stand up.““And then I called my buddy and I was like, ‘Should I do impressions?’ He’s like, ‘Can you?’ I was like, ‘No.’ He’s like, ‘Well then you should do stand up,'” theBupkisstar continued.Pete Davidson on “Saturday Night Live”.Will Heath/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via GettyWhen his audition day finally rolled around, Davidson didn’t walk away from it feeling sure of himself.“Two times in six minutes someone went, ‘Ha!’ and I was like, ‘That was terrible, there’s no way I’m getting it,'” he remembered thinking.Though he did end up landing the gig, that feeling of uncertainty didn’t leave Davidson throughout his first season on the show.Pete Davidson in “Saturday Night Live” digital shorts.Rosalind O’Connor/NBC via Getty"After my first year I actually called for a meeting with Lorne and I was like, ‘Please fire me,' and he’s like, ‘Why?’ And I was like, ‘I don’t belong here. Everybody’s so talented and they don’t want to be my friend,'” Davidson recalled.Laughing, he explained, “Because I was a child. I was like, ‘Nobody wants to be my friend.’ And he said, ‘You don’t figure it out ‘til your third or fourth year… It’s just gonna suck for three or four years.’ And he was right.”Pete Davidson and Colin Jost during Weekend Update on ‘SNL’.Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyDavidson ultimately remained on the late night sketch show for a total of eight years before heexitedSNLin 2022.“I appreciateSNLalways having my back and allowing me to work on myself and grow,” Davidson said on his final episode. “Thank you toLornefor never giving up on me or judging me even when everyone else was and for believing in me and allowing me to have a place that I could call home with memories that will last a lifetime.“Since his exit, he has returned to the show multiple times to eitherhostor makeguest cameos in skits. The comedian also starred in Peacock’s comedyBupkisand headlined his ownNetflix standup comedy special.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.SNL50: Beyond Saturday Nightis now streaming on Peacock.

Lorne Michaelssaw something inPete Davidsonbefore the comedian had faith in himself.

Davidson, 31, is one of many cast members who appears inSNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, the new Peacock docuseries looking back at the late night show’s storied past as the show celebrates its 50th anniversary.

In the docuseries, which premiered Jan. 16, Davidson admitted that he was initially surprised to get hired for the show at age 20. After watching back his audition tape in the special’s first episode, “Five Minutes,” the comedian said, “It’s wild to see the hope in one’s eye.”

When it came to his audition, Davidson “didn’t know whether to do impressions or stand up.”

“And then I called my buddy and I was like, ‘Should I do impressions?’ He’s like, ‘Can you?’ I was like, ‘No.’ He’s like, ‘Well then you should do stand up,'” theBupkisstar continued.

Pete Davidson on “Saturday Night Live”.Will Heath/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty

When his audition day finally rolled around, Davidson didn’t walk away from it feeling sure of himself.

“Two times in six minutes someone went, ‘Ha!’ and I was like, ‘That was terrible, there’s no way I’m getting it,'” he remembered thinking.

Though he did end up landing the gig, that feeling of uncertainty didn’t leave Davidson throughout his first season on the show.

Pete Davidson in “Saturday Night Live” digital shorts.Rosalind O’Connor/NBC via Getty

Rosalind O’Connor/NBC via Getty

“After my first year I actually called for a meeting with Lorne and I was like, ‘Please fire me,’ and he’s like, ‘Why?’ And I was like, ‘I don’t belong here. Everybody’s so talented and they don’t want to be my friend,'” Davidson recalled.

Laughing, he explained, “Because I was a child. I was like, ‘Nobody wants to be my friend.’ And he said, ‘You don’t figure it out ‘til your third or fourth year… It’s just gonna suck for three or four years.’ And he was right.”

Pete Davidson and Colin Jost during Weekend Update on ‘SNL’.Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Davidson ultimately remained on the late night sketch show for a total of eight years before heexitedSNLin 2022.

“I appreciateSNLalways having my back and allowing me to work on myself and grow,” Davidson said on his final episode. “Thank you toLornefor never giving up on me or judging me even when everyone else was and for believing in me and allowing me to have a place that I could call home with memories that will last a lifetime.”

Since his exit, he has returned to the show multiple times to eitherhostor makeguest cameos in skits. The comedian also starred in Peacock’s comedyBupkisand headlined his ownNetflix standup comedy special.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Nightis now streaming on Peacock.

source: people.com