Pete Davidson, "Saturday Night Live"’s youngest featured player, brought his raunchy self-admittedly immature comedy stylings to the Russell House Ballroom Wednesday night courtesy of Carolina Productions. The 21-year-old comedian has performed on shows like "Guy Code," "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," and the Comedy Central "Roast of Justin Bieber." Before the performance, SGTV and The Daily Gamecock got a chance to talk with him about his craziest moment on set, his fascination with phallic jokes and his rise to comedic stardom.
The Daily Gamecock: What got you started in stand-up comedy?
Pete Davidson: In high school, I had, like, one friend and we didn’t get invited to parties, so we just went to comedy clubs to hang out and watch. He made me try it. My mom took me to the clubs for the first two years, which was pretty embarrassing.
DG: Who are your comedic influences?
PD: Bill Burr and Dave Chappelle. Chappelle is a great guy, super nice and I love him.
DG: How did you get started on SNL?
PD: I got really, really lucky. Amy Schumer shot a movie last summer with Bill Hader, and she gave me this really small part where I got to improv with the crew. Bill and I hit it off a little bit, and he called me and recommended me to SNL and I was like “what, this is crazy!” Then I auditioned again and it went … okay. I got a call a month later that said, “hey, you’re a cast member,” and I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it.
DG: Is it terrifying being on live TV?
PD: Yeah! It’s horrifying. If you f--- up, it’s there. Sometimes it’s funny when you f--- up! And I break all the time. Luckily, I don’t have many lines so when the camera isn’t on me, I’m just always laughing.
DG: What’s been your favorite project you’ve worked on so far?
PD: SNL is my favorite because it has so many great people and everybody there is super smart and talented, and you’re working with the best comedy writers and comedy performers in the world. It’s the best. I’m like the least funny one there, so it’s great to learn from everybody. Everybody is really talented, and then I just come in with my d--- jokes.
DG: Do you feel like you have a say over our generation because you're currently the youngest member on SNL?
PD: No, it’s horrible! I feel bad for my generation because I’m THAT GUY — the guy that just does a bunch of d--- and fart jokes. Sucks for you guys.
DG: What’s been the craziest moment on set at SNL?
PD: Probably when I 69’d the Rock … we rehearsed it originally with his underwear really high up, but it slipped down and he just went for it and I just went for it. My lips were actually on his butt. I knew our cartwheel would be okay because I used to tap dance when I was a kid.
DG: Hold up, you used to tap dance?
PD: I probably shouldn’t have said that. When I was 5 or 6 years old, I was in tap and acrobatics, but then my dad gave me a basketball and said “go play." I’m very limber.
DG: Other than d--- and fart jokes, what makes you laugh?
PD: Uh… d--- and fart jokes. I like the really crude humor; the dark humor. I like the dark s---.
DG: Does your mom think you’re funny?
PD: I think she thinks I’m funny, but it’s weird … I don’t like when she’s there because it’s really uncomfortable. It’s like, I can always find her in the audience even if I don’t know where she’s sitting.
DG: What would you suggest for upcoming comedians?
PD: Just do it. Just do whatever you want to do. Don’t worry if you bomb. I bomb all the time. I’m probably going to bomb later tonight. I bomb hundreds and hundreds of times, and I still bomb. It’s gonna suck sometimes, and sometimes it’s a lot of fun. If it sucks a lot, it’s supposed to. That’s my advice.