Shane Gillis made a notable return to “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) as a guest host, five years after his controversial firing from the show over the use of racist slurs on a podcast. His appearance was a bold move by SNL’s producer Lorne Michaels, sparking curiosity and controversy among viewers. Gillis’s opening monologue tackled his previous dismissal from SNL with a mix of sheepish acknowledgment and humor that bordered on contentious topics. He made jokes about sensitive issues, including using the term “retarded” and making light of relationships between mothers and their sons, which elicited mixed reactions on social media. Some viewers hailed it as a triumph of anti-woke comedy, while others deemed it one of the show’s worst monologues.
Throughout the episode, Gillis’s performances in various sketches did not stray far from his stand-up persona. He portrayed a range of characters, including a religious father visiting a Jamaican church, a participant in an HR meeting questioning the rules of dating coworkers, and a contestant on a game show fearful of giving wrong answers about African Americans. His comedic approach in these sketches garnered laughs, albeit without demonstrating a broad range of sketch-comedy skills.
The episode also featured musical performances by 21 Savage, including “Redrum” and “Should’ve Wore a Bonnet,” adding musical flair to the evening. The cold open of the episode provided a satirical take on Republican Senators expressing their grievances and admiration for former President Donald Trump, reflecting SNL’s continued engagement with political satire.
Gillis’s most controversial moment came during an extended riff on Down Syndrome, where he joked about being mistaken for having the condition and made light of having family members with Down Syndrome. This segment of his monologue seemed to push the boundaries of his comedic material, reflecting his self-awareness of the controversial nature of his humor while capitalizing on the visibility provided by SNL.
In addition to the live sketches, the episode featured a pre-taped sketch titled “White Men Can Trump,” a parody of a movie trailer inspired by recent news about Trump-branded sneakers. This sketch, along with a segment on online gambling, highlighted SNL’s ability to address current events and cultural phenomena with humor and creativity.
“Weekend Update” featured notable appearances, including a segment with a frozen embryo character that commented humorously on recent legal developments affecting IVF procedures in Alabama. This segment stood out for its originality and humor, contributing to the overall entertainment value of the episode.
Shane Gillis’s hosting gig on SNL was a complex blend of humor, controversy, and self-reflection. While his monologue and sketches elicited mixed reactions from the audience, they underscored the show’s willingness to engage with contentious topics and personalities. Gillis’s appearance was a reminder of the delicate balance between comedy and sensitivity, leaving viewers to ponder the limits of humor in addressing social and political issues.
