Shane Gillis, a stand-up comedian previously fired from 'Saturday Night Live' (SNL) in 2019 for making bigoted remarks, made his return to the show as a host. His appearance has sparked a significant amount of discussion and controversy, with opinions divided on his performance and the decision to have him host. Gillis's monologue and various skits, including one featuring his Trump impression to mock the former president's $400 gold sneakers, were notable parts of the episode. The episode also featured musical guest 21 Savage, was broadcast live coast to coast, and was moved to 11:30pm est. Critics and viewers have expressed mixed reactions, with some appreciating the humor and others finding it uncomfortable or cringe-worthy, particularly noting risque jokes about race, gays, and Down syndrome. The decision to bring Gillis back has been criticized as a failure to learn from past controversies, with some drawing parallels to SNL's previous controversial bookings.
SNL goes anti-woke! Fired former cast member Shane Gillis makes triumphant return as host with VERY risque jokes about race, gays and Down syndrome https://t.co/XujiyXnxwL https://t.co/uVuZmHh5kh
Host Shane Gillis Delivers Mixed Bag of Laughs and Cringe in 'Saturday Night Live' Return https://t.co/RnCjqH5P3I
“A sociologist who studies racist humor, suggested that comedians like [Shane] Gillis do, in fact, push an important boundary: the one delineating what level of racism is acceptable in the public square,” a guest columnist writes ahead of Gillis’ #SNL gig. https://t.co/fPOw0EuEYc
Shane Gillis would have made good SNL cast member. The writing is just a little below the historical average. Wild to see Keenan Thompson still plugging away. But honestly, he’s better off without it. And Michael Che should probably go back to his path to the top of the stand…
"Saturday Night Live" mocked Donald Trump's $400 gold sneakers: “They gave me the power to say I’m good at basketball, then double down on that until people actually start to believe it.” https://t.co/qcCdVIkbUN
Shane Gillis Brings His Trump Impression to SNL to Skewer Ex-President’s $400 Gold Sneakers https://t.co/UWVmeOiFUg
Shane Gillis on SNL 🔥 https://t.co/PIWZZgSvmv
What do we think of the Gillis SNL? The cold open stunk. His open was fine. Had its funny moments. Could tell he was nervous a bit. But I still liked it. Really liked the betting app and Trump shoes skit. Church wasn’t bad either.
What do we think of the Gillis SNL? The cold open stunk. His open was fine. Had its moments. Could tell he was nervous. Really liked the betting app and Trump shoes skit. Church wasn’t bad either.
“As with its booking of Nikki Haley,” writes a guest columnist, “#SNL’s olive branch to Shane Gillis reflects a dangerous failure to learn from the hate movements that blossomed during the Trump era.” https://t.co/fPOw0EvcNK
Shane Gillis’s monologue! https://t.co/pd1DjEhtp7
I tried watching the Shane Gillis SNL episode but it’s so uncomfortable to watch. Y’all let me know if it’s funny.
Just logged in to Peacock for the first time in months to watch Shane Gillis on SNL.
Who is watching @Shanemgillis on SNL tonight? I am. First episode I have watched since like 2020.
this episode will break records. tune in live to show @nbcsnl we want our comedy back. @shanemgillis goes so hard they moved the show to 11:30pm est. #snl https://t.co/0GPxCUdSfm
what happen to the #shanegillis @nbcsnl episode?? #snl https://t.co/x8tsV1HWn1
#SNL numbers are about to be wild lol #ShaneGillis https://t.co/aGOOnmDfmf
SNL is back! Stand-up comedian Shane Gillis hosts with musical guest 21 Savage Watch live coast to coast at 8:30 p.m. on NBC Bay Area https://t.co/u1FWBxEWYv
“I know better than to seek moral consistency from a show that airs comedy sketches in between T-Mobile commercials,” a guest columnist writes of #SNL ahead of an episode hosted by Shane Gillis, who was fired from the show over bigoted remarks. https://t.co/fPOw0EvcNK
Me and the gf watching Shane Gillis snl tonight https://t.co/z8jVAeZzwm
Since his firing from "SNL" in 2019 — before he ever appeared on the show — Shane Gillis’s star has ascended quickly. Tonight, he’ll make his debut as a host. https://t.co/illByPVMtK
Honored that Aja Romano referenced my column about Joe Rogan and Bigotry Denial Syndrome in this excellent piece for Vox examining why comic Shane Gillis is hosting Saturday Night Live years after getting fired from SNL for comedy rooted in racism: https://t.co/6fdLTq8pAs
“A level of offstage but on-mic bigotry that #SNL producer Lorne Michaels deemed unacceptable in 2019 is fine and dandy in 2024,” Seth Simons writes ahead of an “SNL” episode hosted by Shane Gillis, who was fired from the show over bigoted remarks. https://t.co/fPOw0EvcNK
OPINION | It may be that Bill McCusker and Andrew Pacella are fringe figures, but anyone who’s ever had a large audience had a small one first. Take Shane Gillis: Five years ago he was telling bigoted jokes on the internet; now he’s hosting "SNL." https://t.co/MY7eak2gin
Shane Gillis and 21 Savage discuss Bitcoin in new SNL teaser! https://t.co/NQPDjH47Dr