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With talking about Louis C.K., his relationship to Ariana Grande, and the double standards of life, Pete Davidson “Alive In New York” shows how limiting SNL is for the comic.
| Directed By | Jason Orley | |
| Written By | Pete Davidson | |
| Aired (Netflix) | 2/25/2020 | |
| Genre(s) | Stand Up Comedy | |
| Noted Cast | ||
| Himself | Pete Davidson | |
This content contains pertinent spoilers.
Plot Summary
Public romances, a father lost in 9/11, and dealing with the celebrity and accountability that comes with being a public figure is as strange to you as it is to Pete. Yet, using dark humor, he figures his way through it. However, with dark humor comes misinterpretation, crazy fans and other public figures, and Pete, a guy from Staten Island, wondering why some people can get away with things he can’t? Not to say he’d do certain things, like make a big deal about Ariana Grande’s genitals or their sex life, but there is the question of why can people try to do Pete dirty and he is forced to just take it?
Review
Highlights
His Style Of Comedy
Like many, my knowledge of Pete is strictly from SNL where he seems like an outlier compared to everyone else. He isn’t necessarily good at impressions, hasn’t really found a character that has become viral, and as he says himself, the fact he has been on so long is a slight surprise. Which we don’t mean in a rude way, but if this special makes one thing clear: It’s that Pete, even with SNL being on Saturday at 11:30 PM, isn’t geared towards their style.
The reason I say that is, Pete is somewhere between a stoner comic, someone who digs dark comedy, yet also will make you think a bit. Now, in terms of the stoner stuff, that comes in his “Sh!t happens” attitude. Like the fact, through a friend he supports, he is a dad now. Then, in terms of dark comedy, as Pete is known for, he has no issues making jokes out of dark topics like 9/11 – which he prefaces by noting his dad died during the terrorist attack.
But, the big surprise here is Pete going into double standards. For whether we’re talking about his take on what gay men do that he couldn’t, or what has happened after Ariana Grande broke up with him, it makes you think. Specifically him talking about Grande for the way he paints what she has said and done since they ended things, it really helps you realize how favorable the industry is when her, Taylor Swift, and others, end things. For really, all the things Grande has said ranging from Pete’s penis to other things, could he really get away with saying that about her as openly as she has talked about him?
On The Fence
This Isn’t A Laugh Till You Choke Taping
While Pete is sure to get you smiling, or having one of those “I see your point there,” he isn’t so funny that you’ll be keeling over. Pete is amusing, entertaining even, but he is sort of like that weird kid in your friend group. You love him, think he is kind of strange, but he is cool and is consistent. Which is the best thing we can say about Pete. As a comic, he is consistent. He may not reach grand highs where you’ll be quoting him left and right, but Pete never has a dull moment where you find yourself distracted. He keeps you engaged enough to want to hear the next joke, the next story, and definitely look forward to his movie “The King of Staten Island.”
Overall
Advised For
- Those who like dark comedy
- Who like comedians who have that chill, “This could be all over tomorrow and I’d just go back home” vibe
Would Watch Again? – One and Done
Rating: Positive (Watch This)
While his SNL career isn’t that noteworthy to us, this honestly felt like what a “special” should. It felt like a coming-out party, the end of a chapter, and something to get you excited for what’s next in Davidson’s career. Which, when it comes to many of Netflix’s stand up releases, I cannot hold true.
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