Remember Shane Gillis ? The comedian who got hired and then fired from Saturday Night Live like lightning fast back in 2019? Well guess what he just hosted the show! It's a wild story of comeback controversy and comedy. Did he kill it? Did he flop? Let's break down his SNL episode and see what everyone's talking about.
Walking on Thin Ice? Shane Gillis' SNL Monologue and the Crowd Reaction You Need to Know About
From the moment Shane Gillis walked onto the SNL stage for his monologue you could feel the tension. He knew the audience might not be totally on his side given his history. He even started his monologue acknowledging that the crowd was "pretty liberal" and joked "Now I’m going to lose you even more."
He kicked things off with some pretty standard political jokes poking fun at both Biden and Trump. But then he swerved into more risky territory. He launched into a bit about "a thing I’ve noticed that white guys do" which involved asking their girlfriends if they'd ever been with a Black guy. He even admitted to asking the question himself. His attempt at a twist was to claim the woman he asked was the real racist for saying "Ew no." Some reviews called it basic and unfunny saying it felt like he was just trying to play to a certain type of "boorish conservative-leaning white dude" and not really bringing the whole audience along for the ride.
He also made a Bill Cosby joke referencing sexual assault which landed with a thud for many. Overall the monologue was seen as pretty divisive with some finding it edgy and others just cringing. It definitely set a certain tone for the night and proved Gillis was not going to play it safe.
'CouplaBeers' Skit Blows Up: Is This the Best SNL Sketch in Years or Just Hype?
Despite a shaky monologue one sketch from the night is getting massive praise online: " CouplaBeers ". In this parody ad Gillis plays a guy shilling a fake medication for anxiety and depression that is well just a couple of beers. The skit shows him going from a sad sack struggling with life to a super confident dude thanks to "CouplaBeers".
Viewers are calling "CouplaBeers" everything from hilarious to "the best SNL skit in the last 20 years". People are loving the over-the-top commercial parody the way it mocks prescription drug ads and Gillis's deadpan delivery. He is seen chugging "CouplaBeers" becoming super confident telling his son he loves him hitting on coworkers and even vacuuming aggressively thanks to the "medication."
The sketch also introduces a second fake drug "aLilBump" to counteract the drowsiness of "CouplaBeers" which leads to even more chaotic and funny scenarios. It is definitely a standout moment from the episode and shows Gillis can land a joke when he is in a strong sketch with solid writing.
Beyond 'CouplaBeers': Other Sketches and Did Gillis Find His SNL Groove?
While "CouplaBeers" is the sketch everyone is talking about Gillis was in several other skits throughout the night. He played a dad in a parody PBS Kids show a news anchor in a local news broadcast gone wild and a groom facing an unexpected wedding objection.
One sketch "Mid-Day News 2" got some attention for its dark humor. It featured news anchors played by Gillis Ego Nwodim Kenan Thompson and Heidi Gardner competing to guess the race of crime suspects in news stories. Some reviews noted this sketch worked better than Gillis's monologue offering some social commentary and implicating everyone in the joke.
Another sketch "Winery Tour" featured Heidi Gardner as an influencer girlfriend obsessed with getting the perfect photos of her boyfriend played by Gillis. Reviews were mixed on these other sketches with some saying Gillis mostly played a "low-energy version of himself" and the episode felt "crude and gross" overall. However cast members like Gardner Nwodim and Thompson were praised for elevating the material.
SNL Cold Open Surprise: Mike Myers Returns as Elon Musk (Sort Of)
The cold open for the episode took on a political angle featuring James Austin Johnson as Trump and Bowen Yang as JD Vance. But the real surprise was a cameo by SNL alum Mike Myers. Myers took on the role of Elon Musk this time replacing Dana Carvey who usually does the impression.
Myers's Musk was portrayed as hyperactive giggly and almost robotic. It was a different take on the impression and a fun surprise for longtime SNL fans. The cold open tackled a fictional Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky adding another layer of political satire to the episode.
Mixed Reactions: Was Shane Gillis' SNL Hosting Gig a Success or a Miss?
Overall reviews for the Shane Gillis hosted SNL episode are pretty mixed. Some viewers and critics felt the episode was a letdown calling it "crude" and saying Gillis did not really shine outside of a few sketches like "CouplaBeers".
However "CouplaBeers" is definitely being hailed as a comedy highlight with some even saying it is the best SNL skit in years. There's no question the sketch resonated with many viewers and has become a viral moment.
Gillis's monologue however remains controversial with its risky jokes and divisive tone. It seems like his return to SNL was always going to be a talking point and the episode delivered on that front sparking debate and getting people to tune in. Whether it was a true comedic triumph or just a curiosity is definitely up for debate.
Key Moments from Shane Gillis' SNL Hosting Debut:
- Controversial Monologue: Gillis's monologue tackled political jokes and a risky bit about race drawing mixed reactions.
- Viral 'CouplaBeers' Skit: Widely praised parody ad for a beer-based anxiety medication is called a standout sketch.
- 'Mid-Day News 2' Sketch: Darkly comedic skit about news anchors guessing crime suspect race sparks discussion.
- Mike Myers' Elon Musk Cameo: SNL alum takes on Musk impression in cold open surprise.
- Tate McRae Musical Guest: Singer performed "Sports car" and "Dear god".