'Bupkis' review: Pete Davidson's autobiographical series isn't entirely what you'd expect

While the title of Peacock's Bupkis suggests the show is about nothing at all, it is, in fact, about one thing in particular: Pete Davidson.The comedian and former Saturday Night Live star plays himself in this semi-autobiographical comedy, which wisely steers clear of capitalizing on his more tabloid-ready exploits and relationships. Nor does it seem particularly interested in the performance aspect of Davidson's career. These more public parts of Davidson's life take a backseat here, with Bupkis focusing instead on his relationship with his family and himself.Your mileage on Bupkis will vary depending on your enjoyment of Davidson's comedic sensibilities — a blend of cynical self-deprecation and stoner comedy. However, despite the fact that audiences are incredibly familiar with Davidson as a celebrity, Bupkis may surprise you yet. In between its mostly effective bouts of hilarity, the show takes time to deliver some welcome — and much-needed — introspection. SEE ALSO: 'Bupkis' trailer: What's it like to be Pete Davidson? Bupkis presents Pete Davidson, by Pete Davidson. Pete Davidson and Joe Pesci in "Bupkis." Credit: Heidi Gutman / Peacock We've already seen a heavily fictionalized version of Davidson's life in 2020's The King of Staten Island. While that film created some distance between its star and main character by having Davidson play a Staten Islander named "Scott Carlin," Bupkis eliminates that sliver of distance entirely. Davidson stars as Pete Davidson: Pete lives at home with his mother Amy (Edie Falco), he's had high-profile relationships, he worked on SNL... all essential parts of real-life Davidson lore. The Pete we see here will also feel remarkably similar to Davidson's stints on Weekend Update: always ready to poke fun at himself for everything from his drug use to his mental health.Throughout Bupkis, we also get a closer look at Pete's connection to his family members, especially Amy and his grandfather (Joe Pesci), aka Poppy. Recurring characters include his grandfather's friend Roy (Brad Garrett), his uncle Tommy (Bobby Cannavale), his sister Casey (Oona Roche), and his ex-girlfriend-turned-friend Nikki (Chase Sui Wonders). The most rewarding among these are definitely the first two, especially since Amy and Poppy witness most of Pete's self-destructive tendencies and are often at a loss for how to help him. In terms of characterization, Casey suffers the most, as we don't see much of her beyond her love — and sometimes resentment — of Pete. Amy and Poppy often get storylines exploring their lives without Pete, but Casey can unfortunately feel like an afterthought.Bupkis is uneven, but enjoyable. Pete Davidson and Edie Falco in "Bupkis." Credit: Heidi Gutman / Peacock Bupkis's occasionally uneven approach to Pete's relationships extends to its comedic choices. Some of the show's wildest moments, including an awkward encounter with a sex worker or Amy walking in on Pete masturbating, play less like meaningful story moments and more like shock value that proclaims, "Wow, Pete Davidson sure has a crazy life." That both scenes occur in the very first episode may also create a high bar for entry.To its credit, Bupkis isn't all shock factor. The second episode explores Pete's childhood and relationship to Uncle Tommy, giving us a glimpse into how Pete began using humor as a coping mechanism after his father's death. Later installments take a look at his relationship to mortality and his attempts at getting sober. Despite the dark subject matter, these prove far more funny and effective than any wild sex romp.The arcs of most Bupkis episodes also prove surprising in the best possible way. A derailed work trip ends in a high-speed car chase. A false report that Pete has died somehow winds up with him threatening someone with a glaive — with a quick pit stop involving Al Gore along the way. None of this is at all what I anticipated from Bupkis, but I'm not at all mad about it.Bupkis doesn't totally defy every expectation one might have going into a Pete Davidson–led series about Pete Davidson. Yes, we still hear a reference here and there to his past relationships, and there are many, many jokes for which Staten Island is the punchline. But overall, the show is a wild ride through a wild life, as well as a clever way to riff on your own notoriety. As John Mulaney (playing himself) puts it in a conversation he has with Pete: "Your life is fascinating. I mean, I don't know what it's like to live it, but goddamn do we have fun watching it." For the most part, the same is true of Bupkis.Bupkis hits Peacock May 4.