'SNL': Rami Malek, Pete Davidson turn our 'Squid Game' obsession into a country song

Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY
·2 min read

Did you really think "Saturday Night Live" wouldn't spoof "Squid Game"?

The Korean survival drama, which has drawn comparisons to "The Hunger Games" and Japanese novel and film "Battle Royale," is Netflix's most popular show ever, with 111 million views in its first 28 days, according to the streaming service.

"SNL" jumped on the show's huge success with a country-fried parody song, a takeoff of Branchez & Big Wet’s “Turn Up On the Weekend." Rami Malek ("No Time to Die"), who hosted Saturday's episode with musical guest Young Thug, was joined by Pete Davidson as debt-ridden crooners who sign up for Squid Game to make a quick buck.

Rami Malek at the world premiere of "No Time to Die" in London last month.
Rami Malek at the world premiere of "No Time to Die" in London last month.

'SNL': Rami Malek can't help 'resting villain face,' Daniel Craig appears as surprise guest

"Yes, I'm broke and it's a damn shame," Davidson sings. "Guess I gotta play the Squid Game."

The actors donned green tracksuits similar to the ones worn in the show, as they participated in life-or-death versions of children's games such as "Red Light, Green Light" and "Glass Stepping Stones."

"There’s a robot girl who caught me running, better duck behind the nearest guy," Davidson sings at one point. Later, one of them kills the other and makes off with the grand prize. ("Forty-five billion won / that's a whole lotta money / At least I think it is / I'm confused by the currency.")

Malek buddied up with Davidson again during another "SNL" sketch, "Celeb School Game Show," where the two played heightened versions of each other.

"He's got the soul of a Victorian child trapped in his eyes," Malek, as Davidson, joked of himself. The Oscar winner donned a blue tie-dye hoodie and blond hair, and talked about Davidson's upbringing in Staten Island, New York.

Malek's Davidson protests when asked to provide an answer about his hometown on the quiz show. "How would I know that? ... All of our classes were to prepare us to be like firefighters or racist cops," he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SNL: Rami Malek, Pete Davidson spoof 'Squid Game,' play each other

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