'Sometimes comedy is really the only way forward through tragedy' — Pete Davidson's cold open on SNL

Guest host Pete Davidson delivered a perfectly pitched, moving and funny 'cold open' on SNL last weekend, to address the sadness of the week.

I don’t usually post twice in a day, but this one is both superb, and topical. The attached clip is the only one I could embed, but you can find it online here (SNL’s X page] with the lovely, sombre, self deprecating opening line - ‘who better to comment than Pete Davidson’. Of course that wording sets up the whole thing.

Best wishes

Tony

This week we saw the horrible images and stories from Israel and Gaza. And I know what you’re thinking, who better to comment on it than Pete Davidson?

Well, in a lot of ways I am a good person to talk about it because when I was 7 years old, my dad was killed in a terrorist attack. So, I know something about what’s that like. (Scott Davidson was a New York City firefighter who died on Sept. 11, 2001)

Pete Davidson with his father Scott, one of the heroes of 9-11

I saw so many terrible pictures this week of children suffering, Israeli children and Palestinian children. It took me back to a really horrible, horrible place. No one in this world deserves to suffer like that, especially not kids.

After my dad died, my mom tried pretty much everything she could do to cheer me up. I remember one day when I was 8, she got me what she thought was a Disney movie, but it was actually the Eddie Murphy stand-up special, Delirious. We played it in the car on the way home, but when she heard the things Eddie Murphy was saying, she tried to take it away, but then she noticed something. For the first time, in a long time, I was laughing again.

I don’t understand it, I really don’t, I never will, but sometimes comedy is really the only way forward through tragedy. My heart is with everyone whose lives have been destroyed this week. But tonight, I’m going to do what I have always done in the face of tragedy, and that’s try to be funny.

Remember, I said try.

And live from New York, it’s Saturday night!

The current episode of the Speakola podcast features Lahra Carey and her beautiful eulogy for husband, Ben.