Pete Davidson extended an open invitation to Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin, hosts of the “Today” show, to visit his Staten Island Ferry. The invitation came during Davidson’s January 31st appearance on “Today” to promote his new animated comedy, “Dog Man.”
Guthrie initiated the conversation by referencing the decommissioned ferry Davidson purchased with former “Saturday Night Live” colleague Colin Jost in 2022 for $280,000. She then played a clip from the previous week’s show featuring Jost and his wife, Scarlett Johansson, jokingly appealing for donations to help cover the ferry’s costs. Johansson humorously pleaded with viewers to start a GoFundMe campaign for the ferry, claiming she was speaking “for or against” the Staten Island Ferry but ultimately wanting to “help our family.”
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Davidson reacted to the clip lightheartedly, commenting on the “horrible PR for the ferry.” He reassured Guthrie that he and Jost were actively brainstorming ideas for the ferry’s future, emphasizing the challenge of working with a “giant boat that holds 5,000 people.”
When Guthrie inquired about the possibility of hosting a “Today” show broadcast from the ferry, Davidson readily agreed, offering an open invitation for the hosts to come aboard anytime.
Davidson previously disclosed on the “Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers” podcast in June 2023 that he and Jost were “in the hole” financially due to the ferry purchase. He outlined their ambitious plans to transform the vessel into a multifaceted entertainment hub, complete with a restaurant, concert venue, movie theater, and hotel rooms.
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However, in September 2024, Jost candidly admitted to PEOPLE that the ferry purchase was the “dumbest and least thought-through purchase” he had ever made. He cited the inoperable engines and the logistical difficulties of moving the massive vessel as significant hurdles. Despite initially justifying the purchase based on a perceived favorable price per square foot in New York, Jost acknowledged the unforeseen complexities of the venture.
“Dog Man” is currently playing in theaters.
