- - In a surprise 'SNL' return, Pete Davidson jokes about ferry purchase, expecting a baby

Brendan Morrow, USA TODAYNovember 9, 2025 at 11:07 PM

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Pete Davidson has come home to "Saturday Night Live."

The former "SNL" star, 31, made a surprise return to the sketch comedy show on Nov. 8, joining Colin Jost on "Weekend Update." In the segment, Davidson addressed his decision to buy a Staten Island Ferry with Jost in response to a New York Times article dubbing the move a "fiasco."

The comedian, who starred on "SNL" from 2014 to 2022, also referenced the fact that he appeared at Riyadh Comedy Festival. Comics who took part in the recent festival in Saudi Arabia, including Bill Burr and Aziz Ansari, have received backlash because of the country's history of human rights abuses.

"In case you're wondering why I had to do a show in Saudi Arabia, we're losing millions on this ferry," Davidson joked. "I assume that's what the (New York Times) article says. I can't spend $5 on a paywall when I got a kid on the way."

Davidson is expecting his first child with girlfriend Elsie Hewitt.

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Davidson and Jost originally purchased their decommissioned Staten Island Ferry boat for $280,100 in 2022, with hopes of turning it into an entertainment venue.

On "The Tonight Show" in January, the "King of Staten Island" star explained he and Jost decided to bid on the boat because they used to ride it, and it was going to be sold for scrap metal. At the time, he defended his plans for the ferry and said they needed more time for them to be realized.

"We have a really extensive plan, and we're a lot closer than people seem to think," he said. "It's four or five floors, and each floor, we're going to do something interesting: A hotel up top, movie theater, an entertainment theater, some little shopping kiosks."

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The New York Times recently wrote that Davidson's grand plans for the ferry boat appear "no closer to being realized." But in his "Weekend Update" appearance, the comedian insisted everything is "fine" with the project and joked about not giving up on it.

"If Lorne Michaels has taught us anything, it's that you never, ever give up, even if everyone says the time has come and Tina Fey is ready to take over," he quipped, addressing rumors that the "SNL" creator would retire from "SNL" and choose Fey as his successor.

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Pete Davidson attends SNL50: The Homecoming Concert at Radio City Music Hall on Feb. 14, 2025, in New York City.

Davidson also joked he has a "great idea to make this ferry more of a success": turning it into "new Staten Island," where everyone who vowed to leave New York City if Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor can move.

Davidson's surprise return to "SNL" comes after he announced in July that he'll be a first-time father. He quipped on "Weekend Update" that he's "excited to be a dad and give it all the energy and enthusiasm I never had for this show."

Contributing: Joy Ashford

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pete Davidson returns to 'SNL,' talks Staten Island Ferry

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