Pete Davidson nostalgically recalls a chaotic SNL sketch with Jim Carrey, featuring awkward zombie antics and laughter-saving NERF bat.
Comedian Pete Davidson shared a memorable experience involving his first sketch on Saturday Night Live, where he appeared alongside Jim Carrey during the show‘s 40th season in 2014. The sketch, centered around a zombie apocalypse scenario, made a significant impression on Davidson, especially because it was his debut on the NBC late-night series. Despite his enthusiasm, the sketch did not land well with audiences, creating a challenging moment for the then rookie performer.
The Sketch: A Zombie Apocalypse at a High School Setting
The story unfolds at a high school where a group of students, played by Kenan Thompson, Beck Bennett, Cecily Strong, and Kyle Mooney, are trying to survive a zombie outbreak. Jim Carrey portrays a skeptical father who refuses to believe that Davidson’s character, his son, is actually a zombie. Davidson vividly remembers his role as the zombie son and the length of the sketch, which ran about six minutes, an unusually long runtime for a comedy skit.
Davidson explained,
“My first real sketch [was for an episode] Jim Carrey was hosting. I was so excited because he’s Jim Carrey, one of the legends, and we wrote this sketch where it’s like a zombie apocalypse.”
However, the audience reaction was lukewarm at best. Davidson added,
The sketch bombed to high heavens. And it’s a long one. Like it’s six minutes.
Jim Carrey’s Improvised Comedy Saves the Scene
During the sketch, a rare moment of laughter came when Davidson’s zombie character attempted to attack Carrey’s character, who responded by striking Davidson with a baseball bat. This gag earned a positive reaction from the viewers, encouraging Carrey to continue with this bit. Davidson recalled,
Image of: Pete Davidson
“I’m eating d— and the only thing that made people laugh — there was like one scene, one part where I was supposed to like try to attack Jim and he hits me with a baseball bat and that got a pop,”
he said.
Carrey proceeded to repeatedly hit Davidson’s character with a NERF bat in subsequent takes, turning a flailing sketch into a comedic highlight. Davidson shared,
“Jim is a comic so he knows if that works, so the rest of the sketch he just keeps wailing on me with a NERF bat, and then it started to hurt,”
he said, continuing,
“So at one point, as a zombie, I went ‘Argh, no more.’ And, uh, it’s online if you want to watch a 20-year-old crumble with his idol.”
Davidson’s Tenure on SNL and Future Projects
Pete Davidson joined Saturday Night Live as a cast member in 2014 and remained with the show for eight seasons, officially announcing his departure in 2022. His time on SNL helped define his early career, including moments like this challenging but humorous debut sketch. Davidson continues to expand his career beyond television, starring next in the heist action comedy film The Pickup, alongside Eddie Murphy and Keke Palmer. The film is scheduled to stream on Prime Video starting August 6.
The Importance of Jim Carrey’s Support in a Rookie’s First Performance
This anecdote illustrates how an established veteran like Jim Carrey can turn a stumbling point into a memorable comedy moment, giving a young actor like Pete Davidson a chance to learn and grow on live television. The willingness to improvise and elevate a failing sketch not only saved the performance but also provided Davidson with a unique experience to reflect on. As Davidson continues to build his career, this story remains a testament to the unpredictable nature of live comedy and the value of collaboration among performers.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does Pete Davidson have a syndrome?
A. At 23, Davidson learned that he had PTSD and borderline personality disorder (BPD). These disorders cause strong mood swings, impulsive actions, and trouble managing relationships. In September 2017, he shared with “WTF” podcast host Marc Maron, “This has been the worst year of my life.”
Q. What addiction does Pete Davidson have?
A. Pete Davidson has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and has experienced issues with marijuana use.
Q. What is Pete Davidson allergic to?
A. Pete Davidson has a strong allergy to dogs.
Q. What was Pete Davidson’s addiction?
A. I stopped using drugs and now feel happy and sober for the first time in eight years. Davidson has been open about his marijuana use, but many didn’t know the full extent. He faced addiction to ketamine and used it daily for four years.
