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Alive From New York

Pete Davidson

Netflix · 2020 · 49 min

Pete Davidson confronts his own tabloid infamy on stage.

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Pete Davidson spent the late 2010s as a magnet for tabloid gossip, turning his personal life into public property. His first Netflix hour attempts to claw back some narrative control by doing what he does on Saturday Night Live: being deeply, almost uncomfortably honest about his own disasters. He walks onto the stage in a suit jacket and sneakers, wearing his anxieties openly and giggling through bits that feel more like a therapeutic debrief than a polished stand-up act.\n\nFilmed at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City, the 49-minute set captures Davidson at a career crossroads. He was still a polarizing presence on SNL, but his fame had transcended the late-night sketch show, largely due to high-profile relationships and public mental health struggles. Much of the material is retaliatory, addressing the fallout of his highly publicized breakup with pop star Ariana Grande and explaining his perspective on the controversy surrounding his SNL joke about politician Dan Crenshaw.\n\nSome of the strongest moments come when he punches sideways at fellow comedians, specifically recounting a tense early interaction with a pre-disgrace Louis C.K. who tried to get him fired for smoking weed. However, the special received a lukewarm reception. Critics noted that the set felt rushed and thin, occasionally relying on lazy shock value, including a controversial bit about gay men, rather than well-crafted punchlines. For viewers tracking the tabloid cycle, the appeal lies in seeing him address the headlines directly on his own terms.

The set list

6 bits

  1. Louis C.K. attempting to get Davidson fired from SNL for smoking marijuana backstage.

    Details an awkward summit with Lorne Michaels in 2015 and his feelings of vindication after Louis C.K.'s misconduct scandal came to light.

  2. The fallout from his 2018 Weekend Update joke mocking congressional candidate Dan Crenshaw's eyepatch.

    Explains the aftermath and laments that his joke and subsequent on-air apology inadvertently made Crenshaw a household name.

  3. His high-profile breakup with Ariana Grande and her public comments regarding his penis size.

    Criticizes her comments in Vogue, jokes about the double standard of airing breakup grievances, and insists her 'Big Dick Energy' claims were meant to disappoint every future woman he dates because she has tiny hands.

  4. A suspicion that some straight men pretend to be gay.

    Jokes that certain straight men feign being gay in order to touch women's bodies without facing consequences.

  5. Directly addressing home viewers who paused the special.

    A mid-set fourth-wall break congratulating viewers on having sex and thanking them for resuming the stream.

  6. The closer (spoiler). Show it

    Memories and jokes about his father, a New York firefighter who died during the September 11 attacks. closer

    Addresses the painful childhood loss, the financial settlement, and the resulting trauma with candid, dark humor.

How it plays

Tone
Alternatingly sad, dishy, resentful, vulnerable, naughty, and cavalier.
On stage
Anxious, jittery, yet casual and self-deprecating; frequently giggles at his own material and shrugs when jokes falter.
Pace
Baggy, raw, and unpolished with loose limbs, stammering, awkward pauses, and loose transitions from one anecdote to the next.
About
celebrity interactions and gossip, relationships and breakup fallout, Saturday Night Live and Lorne Michaels, social media backlash and cancel culture, family tragedy and grief

What the critics said

Though not without its insights, Alive from New York struggles to find a steady beat.

In the room: Tentative and unsure how to react to some jokes, leaning in with fascination during personal celebrity gossip while offering occasional awkward laughter.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: rottentomatoes.com, imdb.com, tvguide.com, vulture.com, theguardian.com, theringer.com, decider.com, en.wikipedia.org.

Backstory

Filmed around the time Davidson was entering rehab; arrives amidst public scrutiny regarding his whirlwind engagement and breakup with Ariana Grande, his controversial Weekend Update remarks about Dan Crenshaw, and his departure from social media.

Details

Released
Taped
Gramercy Theatre, New York
Runtime
49 min
Where
Netflix
Director
Jason Orley
Topics
Before
SMD (2016)
After
Turbo Fonzarelli (2024)

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