Pete Davidson is well-known for drawing inspiration from his own life in his comedy. From The King of Staten Island (2020) — a film he co-wrote and starred in, which was a semi-autobiographical look at his life — to his work on Saturday Night Live, where his skits often reflected his real-life experiences, Davidson has consistently used his personal story as a source of humor.
Now, with the new Peacock original series Bupkis, Davidson is once again blurring the lines between fiction and reality. The show is described as a “heightened fictionalized version of Pete Davidson’s life,” where Davidson not only co-writes but also stars as a version of himself. This fictional Pete Davidson lives with his mother in Staten Island and navigates the challenges of a burgeoning comedy career amid the pressures of fame.
According to Deadline, the series aims to capture Davidson’s real-life persona with “unapologetically unfiltered, R-rated storytelling.” But just how much of Bupkis is grounded in reality?
Pete’s Family and Girlfriend in Bupkis
In Bupkis, Pete Davidson’s character lives with his mother, mirroring Davidson’s real life, where he lives with his mom, Amy Waters Davidson. Davidson has often joked about this on Saturday Night Live, humorously defending his living situation by saying, “It’s not like I moved into her house. I just bought a house with my mom, like a winner.” In the series, actress Edie Falco portrays his mother, Amy, maintaining the real-life name.
The show also features other key figures from Davidson’s life. Oona Roche plays a version of his sister, Casey, while Davidson’s current girlfriend, actress Chase Sui Wonders, plays his character’s love interest in the series. However, not everyone from Davidson’s life makes it into the show.
Who Won’t Be Featured in Bupkis?
The King of Staten Island touched on the deeply personal story of Davidson’s father, a firefighter who died in the 9/11 attacks. However, Bupkis does not include a portrayal of Davidson’s father. Additionally, despite Davidson’s high-profile relationships with celebrities like Ariana Grande and Kim Kardashian, these aspects of his life are not explored in the show. When asked about this in an interview with Charlamagne tha God, Davidson confirmed, “There’s none of that. There’s zero of that.”
Plot and Themes in Bupkis
Beyond featuring his family and friends, Bupkis dives into Davidson’s struggle to maintain a normal life despite his fame. In the trailer, Davidson’s character expresses a desire for “a regular-type life,” a sentiment the comedian has echoed in interviews, where he’s discussed his discomfort with the intense public scrutiny of his personal life, particularly his romantic relationships.
In one scene from the trailer, Davidson’s character Googles himself and is horrified by the tabloid headlines he finds. These headlines, such as “Is Pete Davidson on Drugs?,” “Living in Mom’s Basement,” and the infamous “Butthole Eyes” story, are all references to actual media coverage Davidson has faced.
Even the show’s title, Bupkis, has personal significance. It’s a Yiddish term meaning “nothing,” a favorite expression of Davidson’s grandfather. “My grandpa used to say it all the time growing up,” Davidson shared in an interview. “Like, ‘You don’t know bupkis!’ or ‘This is bupkis!’ We just thought it was a fun title… He’s a big fan of TV and film, and he got a kick out of it.”
Creating Bupkis: A Collaborative Effort
Davidson hasn’t just used his real life as material for Bupkis—he’s also brought many of his real-life friends on board to help create the show. This includes co-writers Judah Miller and Dave Sirus, along with directors Jason Orley and Oz Rodriguez. This collaborative approach was inspired by comedian Adam Sandler, who is known for working closely with his friends on his projects. “I’m just trying to copy what Sandler did because Sandler did it right,” Davidson explained. “For the last 30 years, he’s just made movies with his boys and taken care of everyone.”
Bupkis stars Pete Davidson, alongside a stellar cast including Edie Falco, Joe Pesci, Bobby Cannavale, Charlie Day, Brad Garrett, Ray Romano, Kenan Thompson, and Chase Sui Wonders. The series is now streaming on Peacock.