Colin Jost and Pete Davidson are two of the biggest stars on Saturday Night Live with Jost serving as co-anchor on the Weekend Update and Davidson performing some of the show’s most memorable skits (for instance, the TikTok trending skit, Rap Roundtable). Over the years, the two have also shared the stage together from time to time.
And because their chemistry is undeniable, fans are wondering how close the two men really are behind the scenes.
They’re Both From Staten Island
As some fans may know, Jost and Davidson are both Staten Island natives, something the men would discuss on SNL from time to time. In fact, earlier this year, when Davidson joined Jost for the weekend update, Davidson remarked that Jost probably spent Valentine’s Day somewhere with “more boats than people.” In response, Jost told him, “Come on man, I grew up in Staten Island just like you!” Davidson jokingly retorted, “Yeah, well your grammar and lack of a police record say otherwise.”
And while both men grew up in the same part of New York, it doesn’t seem like they knew each other prior to joining SNL. In fact, it had been someone else who referred Davidson to the show (Bill Hader, specifically).
Colin Jost Was Among The Cast Members That Pete Davidson Relied On During His Dark Days
Davidson has been open about his mental health struggles throughout his life. Back in 2017, the comedian revealed that he was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Prior to this, he struggled to understand what was really going on. “I was always just so confused all the time, and just thought something was wrong, and didn’t know how to deal with it,” Davidson recalled while speaking with Glen Close for Variety’s Actors on Actors. “Then, when somebody finally tells you, the weight of the world feels lifted off your shoulders. You feel so much better. I hope she feels that way as well.”
At the same time, Davidson also admitted that he’s had some “wild, embarrassing, very public moments” throughout his time on the show. “I'm pretty much the Dennis Rodman of the cast,” the actor even remarked while speaking with Gold Derby. Through it all, however, Davidson also revealed that SNL creator Lorne Michaels and fellow cast members have been very supportive of him. He specifically acknowledged Kenan Thompson, Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, and of course, Jost, saying that they gave him “extra love.” Meanwhile, on the show, Davidson later hinted that he was going to rehab (he said he was taking “the kind of vacation where insurance pays for some of it and they take your phone and shoelaces”), Jost responded by reminding his fellow cast member that there are a lot of people who care about him.
They Recently Became Business Partners
Aside from working on SNL together, Jost and Davidson have also entered a business venture together recently. Specifically, they invested in the company Staten Island Entertainment (SIE) LLC which will bring a new Atlantic League team to Staten Island for the 2022 season. One of their fellow investors also happens to be Jost’s Weekend Update co-anchor (and fellow New Yorker) Michael Che.
The formation of the team officially marks Staten Island’s return to the sport (the Staten Island Yankees didn’t make the MiLB cut previously). “We paid special attention to selecting a partner who will work to ensure the Staten Island Ballpark benefits the greater community and be a place for youth and amateur sports, along with concerts and other events,” New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) president and CEO Rachel Loeb explained in a press statement. “We thank Staten Island Entertainment for their partnership, along with the Mayor’s commitment to invest in the stadium to help it return to all its glory come next Spring.” Recently, SIE also held a contest, which gave fans the chance to name the new Staten Island team.
They Were Supposed To Do A Film Together
Just last year, it was announced that Jost and Davidson would be starring in a comedy for Universal entitled Worst Man. The story, which follows a couple about to get married and the family drama that ensues because of it, was originally pitched by Jost, along with Theodore Bressman and Matthew Bass. In 2020, it was announced that Christopher Storer was attached to direct the project. Since then, however, there has been no update on the film.
At the moment, Jost and Davidson have been pursuing other film projects. For instance, Jost served as one of the voice actors in the recent film Tom and Jerry. He also stars in the Amazon Original film Coming 2 America. As for Davidson, he recently voiced for the animated film Marmaduke and joined the cast of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. He has also been attached to several upcoming film projects. This includes the comedy Meet Cute, which also stars Kaley Cuoco.
