It was late 2020. Everyone was stuck at home, masks were the new jewelry, and late-night television felt a bit like a fever dream. Then Timothée Chalamet walked onto the Studio 8H stage for the first time. Honestly, most people expected a serious "prestige actor" monologue about the craft of cinema or maybe something poetic about New York. Instead, we got a bromance that basically broke the internet for a solid week.
Timothée Chalamet and Pete Davidson SNL appearances didn't just happen; they became a cultural reset for how we view the "indie darling" version of Chalamet. Before this, he was the guy from Call Me By Your Name who cried at fireplaces. After? He was the guy screaming "YEET" while wearing a neon purple wig. It was weird. It was loud. And somehow, it worked perfectly.
The Night the "Yeet" Heard Round the World Happened
The cornerstone of this whole saga is the "Rap Roundtable" sketch. You've probably seen the clip on TikTok about a thousand times. Chalamet and Davidson play Guaplord and $mokecheddathaassgetta, two SoundCloud rappers who have no business being on a panel with actual legends like Questlove and Queen Latifah (played by Punkie Johnson).
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The comedy isn't just in the absurdity. It’s in the chemistry. You can tell they aren't just acting; they are genuinely trying to make each other break. Every time Pete yells "Skrrrt," Timothée is right there with a "Yeet" that feels shockingly authentic for a kid who grew up in Hell's Kitchen.
They weren't just guest and cast member. They were a duo. They felt like those two kids in the back of the classroom who get separated by the teacher but still manage to communicate through weird facial expressions.
Breaking Down the Sketches
It wasn't just the rapping. Throughout that first December 2020 episode, they were inseparable.
- The Monologue: Pete crashed Timothée’s opening, and they immediately started riffing about their vastly different New York upbringings—Staten Island vs. Manhattan.
- Sportsmax: They played "Jet-sperts" Deluca and Delvechio, basically a parody of Newsmax where they refused to believe the New York Jets ever lost a game. The fake mustaches alone were worth the price of admission.
- Weird Little Flute: This came a bit later, but the energy remained. Even when they weren't the main focus, that "New York energy" they shared became the show's backbone.
Why Do They Work So Well Together?
People keep asking why this specific pairing stuck. SNL has celebrity friendships all the time, but this felt different. Sorta like a younger, more chaotic version of the Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg era.
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Timothée Chalamet brings this high-strung, theater-kid intensity. He’s all in. He doesn't do "ironic detachment." Pete, on the other hand, is the king of "I’m just happy to be here." He’s relaxed, self-deprecating, and perpetually looks like he just woke up from a nap. When those two energies collide, you get a weirdly balanced comedy alchemy.
It’s about the "Female Gaze" too. Both guys are massive heartthrobs but in completely different ways. Chalamet is the refined, high-fashion muse; Davidson is the "I can fix him" chaotic skater boy. Seeing them together satisfies a very specific niche of internet culture that lives for "unlikely" celebrity friendships.
The Long-Term Impact on Chalamet’s Career
Believe it or not, these SNL stints actually changed how Hollywood casts Timothée. Before he met Pete on that stage, he was rarely considered for "funny" roles.
Fast forward to 2023 and 2024. He’s playing Willy Wonka. He’s doing more physical comedy. He’s leaning into the "goofball" persona. You can trace a direct line from the $mokecheddathaassgetta sketch to the more whimsical choices he's making now. He realized he could be the "it boy" and the "funny guy" simultaneously.
The 2025 Milestone
By the time Chalamet returned for his third hosting gig in January 2025, things had changed. He wasn't just a host; he was the musical guest, too—a feat not seen by a non-musician host since Gary Busey in the late 70s. While Pete had officially moved on to bigger projects like Bupkis and film roles, the "Ghost of Pete" felt present in how Chalamet handled the stage. He had learned the "Pete Davidson school of SNL": don't take it too seriously, and if you're going to fail, fail loudly.
What Most People Get Wrong About Their Friendship
There’s a rumor that they were best friends for years before the show. Not really. While they had run in similar circles—they famously had dinner with Kanye West and Kid Cudi once—the SNL week is where the bond actually fused.
Writing for SNL is a 24/7 grind. You’re in a room at 3:00 AM eating cold pizza trying to figure out if a joke about a "tiny horse" is funny or just depressing. That kind of pressure creates a bond that most "red carpet" friendships never touch.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking to relive the magic or understand the hype, here is the best way to dive back in:
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- Watch the "Rap Roundtable" first. It’s the origin story. Look for the moment where Questlove actually cracks a smile—that’s when you know it's good.
- Compare the 2020 episode to the 2023 return. You can see Chalamet’s confidence grow. In 2020, he was a guest in Pete's house. In 2023, he owned the place.
- Check out the "Tiny Horse" sketch. It doesn't feature Pete as a lead, but it’s the best example of the "weird" comedy that this duo helped popularize during their era.
- Follow the "New York Kid" thread. Both actors lean heavily into their NYC roots. Understanding their specific boroughs (Manhattan vs. Staten Island) makes their banter ten times funnier.
The era of Timothée Chalamet and Pete Davidson SNL dominance might be in the rearview mirror as they both focus on massive film careers, but the sketches remain a blueprint for how to bridge the gap between "serious artist" and "internet meme." They proved that you can be an Oscar nominee and still look like a total idiot for a laugh. And honestly? We needed that.