Shane Gillis found himself under fire online after his latest monologue on Saturday Night Live drew harsh criticism, even from viewers who typically enjoy his work.
The comedian, who made a triumphant return to the show last year after a controversial past, delivered a performance that left many questioning his comedic timing and delivery.
A Bumpy Return to the SNL Stage
Gillis’s monologue, which was supposed to be his moment to shine, quickly became uncomfortable.
When he tried to make jokes about President Joe Biden, the audience responded with a lukewarm laugh.
Gillis, sensing the crowd’s disinterest, awkwardly acknowledged the liberal nature of the audience, saying, “Look, I get it, you’re pretty liberal here.”
It was clear that his material wasn’t landing as intended, and his nervousness showed.
From Trump to Biden: A Troubling Start
In the early part of the monologue, Gillis tried to poke fun at former President Donald Trump, making jokes about his supposed “fifth grade level ideas,” like renaming the Gulf of Mexico or annexing Greenland.
But the humor didn’t quite resonate with the audience, and his quips fell flat.
“Now I want Greenland. I never even thought about Greenland.
Now it’s all I think about,” Gillis joked, but it was met with a mild response from the crowd.
Switching gears, he then took aim at Biden, making fun of his speeches and doing an impression of the president.
Again, the crowd’s reaction was tepid, prompting Gillis to comment, “You’re pretty liberal here,” before making a Star Wars joke about feeling “powerful like a Sith.”
The Controversial and Cringe-Worthy Bits
As the monologue progressed, Gillis ventured into more politically incorrect territory, referencing white boyfriends questioning their girlfriends about their past relationships with black men.
He then transitioned into mocking a Ken Burns documentary on the Civil War, going so far as to make a questionable Cosby reference about the documentary’s ability to put people to sleep.
“Who needs roofies when we have Ken Burns presents the history of the buffalo on PBS?” he quipped, but this too failed to land well with the audience.
Gillis seemed to struggle as he continued the routine, with awkward pauses and moments where he admitted, “I don’t know how to get out of this joke.”
It was clear that the monologue wasn’t going as planned, and his discomfort was palpable.
Online Reactions: Mixed Feelings About the Monologue
The audience’s response wasn’t kind. Many viewers took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their disappointment.
“I didn’t laugh one time,” one wrote, while another bluntly stated, “That was rough.”
Some tried to be more sympathetic, commenting, “Nerves get all of us,” but others didn’t hold back, calling the performance “pretty bad” and even suggesting it might be “the worst monologue of all time.”
Fans of Gillis were equally vocal, with some expressing their frustration.
“Love Shane, but this is painful to watch,” one fan shared, while another noted that the monologue felt like “he’s making it up as he goes.”
There were also critiques about the long Civil War documentary bit, with one person writing, “Great he nerds out to Civil War docs, but to spend 3 minutes out of 8 on it doesn’t make sense.”
Defenders of Gillis
Despite the backlash, Gillis had his supporters as well.
Some fans reacted positively to the monologue, posting crying-laughing emojis and declaring that he “crushed it.”
One even theorized, “It must pain the SNL libs to have Shane Gillis on there,” showing that not all viewers were critical of his performance.
In the end, Shane Gillis’s return to Saturday Night Live was a mixed bag.
While some applauded his effort, others found his monologue awkward and lacking the sharp humor he’s known for.
It seems like this one will be remembered as a hit-or-miss moment in his SNL journey.