“Saturday Night Live” Season 49 Premiere Opens with Pete Davidson Addressing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
The Season 49 premiere of “Saturday Night Live” kicked off with a heartfelt moment as comedian Pete Davidson took the stage to discuss the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Instead of starting with a skit, Davidson used his platform to talk about the “horrible images and stories from Israel and Gaza.”
Davidson, who has personal experience with tragedy, shared, “When I was seven years old, my dad was killed in a terrorist attack. So I know something about what that’s like.” He expressed his empathy for the suffering of both Israeli and Palestinian children, stating, “No one in this world deserves to suffer like that, especially not kids.”
Reflecting on how comedy has helped him cope with his own experiences, Davidson shared a childhood memory where his mom played an Eddie Murphy stand-up special that made him laugh again after his father’s death. “Sometimes comedy is really the only way forward through tragedy,” he said.
Following Davidson’s opening monologue, the show proceeded with a Taylor Swift/NFL parody sketch, showcasing the obsession with the pop star among football anchors. The sketch even featured a surprise cameo by Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end at the center of the Swift fandom.
This much-anticipated episode marked Pete Davidson’s return to “Saturday Night Live” as a guest host after his departure as a cast member in 2022. Originally scheduled to host the show last season, Davidson’s appearance was delayed due to the Hollywood writers strike. Ice Spice served as the musical guest for the evening, while Bad Bunny is set to host and perform on October 21.
The return of “SNL” also brings back familiar faces such as Mikey Day, Chloe Fineman, Kenan Thompson, and the co-anchors of “Weekend Update,” Michael Che and Colin Jost. The show’s popularity among the 18-49 demographic has made it one of the most-watched entertainment programs on TV, attracting advertisers’ attention.
Looking ahead, NBCUniversal is already in negotiations with advertisers for sponsorships tied to the show’s milestone 50th season, set to debut in the fall of 2024. Executive producer Lorne Michaels has plans for retrospectives and a documentary to celebrate the program’s legacy.
Despite the ongoing strike between SAG-AFTRA and the studios, “SNL” cast members are allowed to return to the production under the Network Code agreement. SAG-AFTRA expressed their support for the cast members in fulfilling their contractual obligations.
As the new season of “Saturday Night Live” begins, Pete Davidson’s opening remarks serve as a reminder of the importance of comedy in navigating through tragic events and finding a way forward.