Pete Davidson’s much-awaited return to NBC’s late-night sketch comedy series, Saturday Night Live will have to wait for a little longer. The show’s May 6 episode, which was scheduled to be hosted by Davidson alongside musical guest Lil Uzi Vert, is now canceled, leaving fans confused. Here’s the reason behind the cancelation.
Why Is Pete Davidson’s SNL Episode Canceled?
Pete Davidson, who made headlines after choosing his work over Kim Kardashian, was supposed to make his much-awaited return on Saturday Night Live on May 6, since his departure at the end of its 47th season in 2022. However, it was announced yesterday that the show has been canceled until further notice.
NBC reported that the show is canceled due to the Writers Guild of America strike, and the channel will continue to air its previous SNL episodes until further notice. Previously, Pete Davidson joked that the show’s cancelation amid the strike would hit him personally.
During his appearance on April 28 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Davidson told the host, “It sucks, because it just feeds my weird story I have in my head, like, ‘Of course that would happen to me.'” Pete was very much unsure if his recent episode would tape, but again expressed that it would be cool to revisit the “old stomping grounds”
Pete Davidson left “Saturday Night Live” after eight seasons in 2022. The comedian met his then-ex-girlfriend Kim Kardashian on the very set of “SNL”. The late-night sketch comedy show plans to air reruns for the time being since sketches are written during the week of each episode. No other hosts or musical guests had been announced before news of the strike.
SNL Means The World To Pete Davidson
During his departure from the show, Pete Davidson shared a statement at the time through friend Dave Sirius’s Instagram page, the Staten Island native said: “I owe Lorne Michaels and everyone at SNL my life. I’m so grateful and I wouldn’t be here without them. I appreciate you guys always having my back and sticking up for me even when that wasn’t the popular opinion.”
Davidson continued,”Thank you for always believing in me and sticking by my side even when it seemed comical. Thank you for teaching me life values, how to grow up, and for giving me memories that will last a lifetime.”
As for the new episode, SNL’s longtime cast member, Kenan Thompson teased what fans could expect from the show. “It’s like a week off for us because they know how to do the show. We don’t have to hand-walk them through every single part of it. Usually, they come up with ideas too, so a quarter of the show is almost already done. It’s just a fun, easy week for us.”
He added that the episode is dedicated to “trying to balance” the characters portrayed by Davidson alongside new sketches. The Good Burger star added, “I’m a classics fan. I’d fill the show up with all of his old characters or whatever, but it’s also fun to explore the new.”
If you aren’t aware, the Writers Guild of America went on a strike on May 2 after weeks-long negotiation with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The guild released a statement, “The WGA Negotiating Committee began this process intent on making a fair deal.”
It continued, “But the studios’ responses have been wholly insufficient given the existential crisis writers are facing. Picketing will begin tomorrow afternoon.” Several productions are already suffering the impact as a result of this strike. Shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Daily Show are also airing repeats.
