Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Sometimes a celebrity pair of best friends just really hits right. It's two people we already love whose platonic adoration for one another makes for some truly dynamite friendship chemistry. Maybe it’s that we imagine ourselves as the third best friend. Maybe it’s just nice to see two people having a genuine, affectionate friendship in an industry that can often be cutthroat and cruel.
Whatever the reason, celeb friendships are compelling to witness, and it’s even better when they seem like an unlikely pair. It doesn’t get much more unlikely than scrawny nerd-type John Mulaney and tatted-up bad boy Pete Davidson. These two have been BFFs since working together at Saturday Night Live, where Mulaney was a writer and Davidson is a cast member. Today, we’re counting down the 10 best John Mulaney and Pete Davidson BFF moments.
10 When They Still Managed To Shock Each Other On The Tonight Show
When Jimmy Fallon had the two on The Tonight Show, he administered a game wherein one comedian tells a crazy story and the other two have to determine whether or not it is a lie. John and Pete were giggling all the way through, but the real measure of friendship is how they managed to surprise each other with their stories. We won’t give it away - this one is too precious not to watch yourself!
9 When They Recounted Clint Eastwood’s The Mule on ‘Weekend Update’
Try not to smile while you watch this, we dare you. John and Pete recount their bro date to see The Mule, a Clint Eastwood film that cracks the guys up with its absurd premise and plot points. Their comedic chemistry is on full display as they tag team the story, playing off each other with ease for pitch perfect delivery. When John delivers the final line, Pete can’t contain himself and has to turn away cracking up. Is that charming or what?
8 When Tan France Gave Pete Davidson a John Mulaney Makeover
When Queer Eye’s Tan France had Pete Davidson on his YouTube series, “Dressing Funny,” he borrowed some style points from the SNL cast member’s BFF to try on. Pete, with his tattooed forearms and world weary eyes, looked out of character in a turtleneck and suit like John typically wears...but we didn’t hate it! When Pete says that he wouldn’t tour doing standup anymore unless it was with John, we get the sense the admiration for his friend runs deeper than just an outfit.
7 When John Catches Pete For An Adorably Candid Instagram Moment
The intimacy of a cute candid shot like this often takes place between two people in a romantic relationship, but top tier friends can pull it off too. John holds the camera, taking a short video in which Pete looks up and notices he is being filmed before looking back at his phone. The quiet affection of a moment like this is understated but real! These two are comfortable hanging out and thoughtful enough to want to capture a candid moment like this on camera.
6 When They Toured Together Despite Being Complete Opposites
When Pete and John toured doing standup together in 2019, John shared a few photos on Instagram illustrating just how different these two are. Posting a couple shots of each of their respective green rooms, John showed his own with a table full of fresh vegetables and a carton of almond milk, while Pete's pre-show hangout was a room full of dudes smoking weed and plowing through takeout containers.
5 When They Swapped Outfits For a Comedy Show
During one of their shows on tour, John posted a pic to Instagram showing the pair wearing each other's outfits. The effect isn't bad! John emulates Pete's deadbeat stoner look, and Pete takes on John's cheeky good boy smile. We can only imagine that their tour together was full of hilarious moments like these, and that their friendship grew stronger because of it.
4 When They Clown Together On the Set Of SNL
Last Halloween, John Mulaney returned to host SNL, on which he wrote for four seasons. He appeared to be happy to be back on set with his buddy as they smirked from under their masks in a photo John posted that week. The BFFs that take selfies together stay together! We're confident these two will remain close for a long time.
3 When John Missed Pete So Much He Visited Him at Work
When Pete was filming The King of Staten Island last summer, John must have felt pretty lonely without his BFF around to cut up with. So, he did what any best friend would do: he visited Pete at work. Later, he posted a picture of Pete and himself on set that day, with some high praise for the film and for his friend. These two know that being a good friend is all about being the ultimate hype man!
2 When John Took Pete to a Steely Dan Concert
A real best friend is up for anything, and Pete Davidson is a real best friend. When John invited him to go to a Steely Dan concert (with Jerry Seinfeld as well), Pete said yes without knowing anything about the band (there's a 10-year age gap between them, remember). But, as John tells it, Pete was one of the rowdiest ones there. Pete seems like exactly the kind of guy who makes anything fun, and aren't those the best kind of friends to have?
1 When Pete Couldn't Hold It Together During A Sketch John Wrote
"Diner Lobster" has to be one of the most ridiculous sketches in the show's history, so you know John Mulaney is behind it. The writer also played a waiter in the sketch, to Pete's diner patron, and it's not long before the camera catches Pete fully shaking laughing, completely unable to hold it together at his best friend's writing. Pete has cited "Diner Lobster" as his favorite sketch of all time. Adorable!