SNL: Pete Davidson Hits Back At It’s A Wonderful Life “Remake” Criticisms

On SNL’s Weekend Update segment, Pete Davidson addressed the backlash he’s received for his upcoming role as George Bailey in a virtual table read of It’s A Wonderful Life. Frank Capra’s 1946 film, It’s A Wonderful Life, is a well-known Christmas classic. The film has been parodied multiple times by SNL for its excessive sentimentality, but despite its ubiquity and sappiness, the film remains sincerely beloved by many audiences for its emotion and story. It’s A Wonderful Life is all at once a dramatic, romantic, funny, and heartwarming tale that captures the holiday spirit and is an annual tradition for many fans.

The It’s A Wonderful Life virtual table read hopes to capitalize on that seasonal adoration for a good cause. A Star-Studded Virtual Gala & Table Read of: It’s A Wonderful Life is a ticketed event intended to raise money for charity. Ed Asner organized the event and the proceeds will go to his charity, The Ed Asner Family Center. The virtual table read will take place on December 13, 2020 and features Ed Asner, Ellie Kemper, Bill Pullman, Vanessa Williams, Carol Kane, Diedrich Bader, BD Wong, Richard Kind, Mia Farrow, Maude Apatow, Chris Williams, and Ed Begley Jr. as well as some “special surprise guests.” Pete Davidson, comedian and star of the semi-autobiographical film The King of Staten Island, will take on the lead role of George Bailey – a casting decision that has led to some backlash.

As Davidson told Colin Jost on SNL, thousands of people on Twitter are “extremely angry” about Davidson’s casting as George Bailey. Davidson fired back at critics, saying, “It’s an old-timey film about a guy who is suicidal. I’m famously depressed and have the complexion of someone in a black and white movie.” Davidson goes on to say that he’d understand the ire if it were a live-action feature film, conceding that he’d be “an odd casting choice.” He then jokes that it would be like rebooting The Godfather with Post Malone: “He’ll make you an offer you can’t understand.”

Though Davidson does indeed seem like an odd casting choice for George Bailey – a role originated by the iconic performance of Jimmy Stewart – the point that Davidson jokingly made has some truth to it. Davidson has very publicly struggled with his mental health. The comedian has spoken on multiple occasions on SNL, in interviews, and in his comedy specials about his struggle with depression. Davidson has opened up about his mental illness and his recovery, revealing that he has come a long way from his lowest point, where he said things got “pretty dark and scary” [via CBS].

In It’s A Wonderful Life, George Bailey is shown that his family and friends are worse off without him and he begins to realize the full impact of the good he’d done for his community. That’s a message that SNL‘s youngest cast member can likely relate to on a very personal level. Furthermore, the charity benefited by the virtual table read is dedicated to providing mental health services for families with special needs. With all that in mind, Davidson is indeed more fitting in the role of George Bailey than those critical of the choice have considered.

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