# SNL October 14th 2023-Pete Davidson Host

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** talk-variety-show\
**Created:** [October 15, 2023, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589 "2023-10-15T09:55:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/1 "2023-10-15T09:55:31Z")

</div>

SNL is back and Pete Davidson was the host. His opening was perfect.

> **[Pete Davidson in poignant 'SNL' opening: 'My heart is with everyone whose...](https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/15/entertainment/pete-davidson-snl-opening/index.html)**
>
> “Saturday Night Live” host Pete Davidson addressed “the horrible images and stories from Israel and Gaza” in deeply personal remarks during the opening minutes of the long-running sketch show’s new episode.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/2 "2023-10-15T10:06:12Z")

</div>

Article is about Pete Davison hosting SNL  
The preview in the above-the-fold video is a picture of Taylor Swift

Well done, editors.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/3 "2023-10-15T10:13:40Z")

</div>

Well, they did a lot of Taylor-Kelce jokes on the show. Taylor and Kelce both had a brief appearance.

But the article does contain a transcript of his full opening. I found it to be very touching.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/4 "2023-10-15T10:29:18Z")

</div>

> [@Smapti](#):
>
> The preview in the above-the-fold video is a picture of Taylor Swift

I’m seeing Pete now

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/5 "2023-10-15T13:38:12Z")

</div>

The cold open by Pete Davidson had the right tone. The situation had to be addressed in some way in order to move on to the rest of the show and we thought they did quite well with it.

Pete’s monolog was pretty good. We’ve never seen him to stand-up. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but we’ve always kind of liked him.

We watched through Weekend Update, which has been better. Everything in between was pretty underwhelming. The bit with the “writers” was amusing, though.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/6 "2023-10-15T14:31:45Z")

</div>

This may be a stupid question but isn’t SAG still on strike? Does the cast not belong? Usually at least some of them do some outside acting roles. I would think that they would honor the strike.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/7 "2023-10-15T14:43:56Z")

</div>

From [https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/movies-shows-airing-amid-sag-strike/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/movies-shows-airing-amid-sag-strike/)

### Reality and variety shows will keep airing

[Return to menu](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/movies-shows-airing-amid-sag-strike/#secondary-nav)

These shows aren’t directly affected by the strike because their unionized cast members work under a different SAG-AFTRA contract, commonly known as the Network Television Code, which doesn’t expire until June 2024. Hosts and presenters for these shows can still work. [The simultaneous writers strike](https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2023/wga-sag-strike-latest/?itid=lk_inline_manual_6) shouldn’t affect them

I think they were blocked by the WGA until the settlement or at least they wouldn’t cross the lines

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/8 "2023-10-15T15:22:16Z")

</div>

We missed the cold open and came in during his monologue. Reading his cold open, yeah appropriately played. SNL has some practice coming on after tragedies. That’s their play and he executed it well.

Unfortunately he and the team failed in their goal of trying to be funny. This was unfunny. Painfully unfunny.

We are all used to a few dud skits, one or two that work, and decent on the news bits. This had none that worked, nothing funny, including the news. The making Colin say racist “jokes” schtick is so overdone. Having his nose booped was the only smile earned the whole show.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/9 "2023-10-15T16:13:26Z")

</div>

> [@XOldiesJock](#):
>
> Pete’s monolog was pretty good. We’ve never seen him to stand-up. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but we’ve always kind of liked him.

It went from funny to very sad pretty quickly at the end. (I’m not complaining, it was good. Just sad)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/10 "2023-10-15T16:46:56Z")

</div>

> [@Procrustus](#):
>
> _It went from funny to very sad pretty quickly at the end._

Yeah…when he mentioned the fate of the girl he’d had relations with the audience didn’t know how to react. Neither did we. There was almost a sudden intake of breath, Then he hit the punchline, which tied the whole story together, which kind of defused the situation. The joke wasn’t in good taste, for sure, but he’s one of those people from whom I wouldn’t expect good taste.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/11 "2023-10-15T17:44:52Z")

</div>

> [@DSeid](#):
>
> We are all used to a few dud skits, one or two that work, and decent on the news bits. This had none that worked, nothing funny, including the news. The making Colin say racist “jokes” schtick is so overdone. Having his nose booped was the only smile earned the whole show.

My wife walked in just as they started the bit with the kids doing stand-up, and she stuck around to laugh appreciatively until it ended, which means that it’s possible that she thinks they’re batting a thousand…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/12 "2023-10-15T19:18:25Z")

</div>

Now that’s funnier than anything I saw on the ep! 😀

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/13 "2023-10-15T19:21:57Z")

</div>

Every time I think the musical guest is a gross parody of contemporary music, another musical guest comes along with even less talent.

I’m old, I know.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/14 "2023-10-15T20:03:57Z")

</div>

I keep swearing that I’m done with this wretched show. I haven’t been particularly impressed with it for a long time. But old habits die hard, and with SAG-AFTRA still on strike, it’s part of the tiny trickle of new content that we’ll be getting for the foreseeable future, so I tuned in. The sketch about the sportscasters wasn’t too bad, and I stuck around through Pete’s song, but the sketch about the secretary was atrocious and drove me to bail out.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/15 "2023-10-15T22:18:03Z")

</div>

I was surprised at the lack of political jokes and skits. No Trump and no Biden? That’s usually in the cold open (in which Davidson doing a splendid and appropriate job). All that I recall was a line in Weekend Update about Black George Santos.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/16 "2023-10-15T22:28:58Z")

</div>

The AV Club was mostly underwhelmed by the SNL season opener.

> **[Saturday Night Live season 49 premiere: Pete Davidson returns](https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-review-season-49-premiere-1850927960)**
>
> From Staten Island to BDE, the comedian hits all of his familiar beats. (Oh, and the world's biggest pop star also drops by.)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/17 "2023-10-15T23:22:27Z")

</div>

My teen laughed a lot. I did too, but it felt more like the episode was written for teen girls, my kid in particular (Taylor jokes, Barbie takes, Marvel interview spoofs). The monologue and cold open did fall flat and I had to explain Def Comedy Jam and _why_ that was funny, the Original Kings of Comedy, etc. So half for teens, half for middle-aged Gen X parents.

Neither of us loved the incest and overdose stuff. But as far as expectations of a Pete hosted show? I guess they were exceeded but the bar was on the floor.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/18 "2023-10-16T00:27:29Z")

</div>

> [@Fair\_Rarity](#):
>
> My teen laughed a lot. I did too, but it felt more like the episode was written for teen girls, my kid in particular (Taylor jokes, Barbie takes, Marvel interview spoofs).

Yep. My 15 yo daughter said she was laughing out loud and really enjoyed the episode. I thought it was middling.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/19 "2023-10-16T00:59:47Z")

</div>

The weekend update skit with “I hope the cops find them before I do” was cringe worthy.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pirviii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pirviii/32/3233_2.png) [@pirviii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pirviii)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2023, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589/20 "2023-10-16T01:58:54Z")

</div>

I found it funny with a few LOL moments. I’d been laughing at the Taylor Swift and Kelcie news and Dion Sanders stuff for weeks and they nailed it. I was happy to not have any political stuff, there is enough of that in the real world.

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-october-14th-2023-pete-davidson-host/991589.md?page=2)
