Shane Gillis bombs ‘SNL’ monologue addressing 2019 shooting: I thought I’d laugh more
Comedian Shane Gillis hosted Saturday Night Live this weekend and used his opening monologue to talk about his 2019 firing from the sketch comedy series.
“I’m here,” the 36-year-old said at the start of his speech, five years after he was axed from the show for using racist and homophobic slurs on a podcast.
“Most of you probably have no idea who I am. I was actually – I was fired from this show a while ago. But, you know, don’t look that up, please. If you don’t know who I am, please don’t look that up in “Google it. It’s okay. Don’t even worry about it.”
As the opening credits continued for about eight minutes, Gillis joked about his sister marrying an Egyptian man and the couple adopting three black children, saying that going to their house was like “getting into the craziest Uber pool I’ve ever been in.”
He then made some sarcastic comments about some of his family members having Down Syndrome, saying they “have a better life than anyone I know.”
He added that they are “the only ones who consistently have a good time.”
When Gillis mentioned that his niece had Down syndrome, the audience laughed.
After taking a hit, Geillis said awkwardly, “[I] I thought this would get a bigger laugh.
“This place is very well lit. I can see everyone not enjoying it,” he said.
Gillis was hired by SNL in 2019, but was fired after just five days without appearing on air.
In the days leading up to his return to the show, Page Six exclusively reported that Gillis planned to go all out and use his Down Syndrome brand.
“He’s giving it his all,” said one of our insiders after seeing the comedian working out the material several times at the city’s comedy clubs recently.
Since being fired from “Saturday Night Live,” Gillis has gained popularity for his two popular Netflix specials, “Live In Austin” and “Beautiful Dogs.”
He has also appeared regularly on Joe Rogan’s controversial podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience.”