Saturday Night Live Recap: Shane Gillis Humors the Base

When the topic of comedian Shane Gillis comes up, it’s similar to someone chatting excessively about New England – my interest wanes because it’s not directly related to me. It seems that this matter is more relevant within the white community, and I am not his intended audience. I came into this understanding that he doesn’t require my involvement or support.

It appears that being let go from Saturday Night Live in 2019 over some old podcast clips has proven beneficial for Gillis, as he now boasts a dedicated fanbase, a successful podcast, and a flourishing career among individuals who frequently use the bald eagle emoji and have questionable browsing habits. Lorne Michaels shared with The Wall Street Journal last October that he was upset when NBC executives decided to terminate Gillis, suggesting that his feelings may still be similar given Gillis’s return as a host within two years. I must admit, it is quite remarkable to part ways from a job without much fanfare and then be warmly received in such a resounding manner. When I resigned from my fact-checker position at this publication, my supervisor simply said, “No problem.

Initially, I approached Gillis’ content with a receptive attitude, hoping to gain new insights. Before diving in, I previewed some of his podcast episodes, but found them difficult to understand. However, there was a chance that this particular episode might challenge my expectations and shift my views on the right-wing podcasting community.

This performance didn’t alter my viewpoint, and I wouldn’t call it enjoyable, but it lived up to my rather modest expectations. To put it bluntly, watching Colin Jost was like receiving a comforting yet unremarkable hug – not the most thrilling experience, but it was nice enough. The show seemed to be tailored for someone who prefers light-hearted humor without diving too deep into politics, which has been described as one of Gilis’s strengths. However, in my perspective, this broad appeal appears to be quite niche, catering more to his existing fanbase than reaching a wider audience.

In a new take on the original text: Gillis began his performance with a sense that he might lose the audience’s interest. However, since the SNL audience has all the time in the world and can easily be won over, this wasn’t necessarily a given. The show started off strong with a few good jokes, like the Joe Biden impression, but later felt underwhelming, such as the bit about Trump and Greenland that seemed to peter out. Gillis excelled at portraying everyday characters, like a dad, an alcoholic, or oddballs, among others. I’m not here just to criticize (save that for texts), but I saw potential in him as a featured player. For instance, in the “Winery Tour,” he played an awkward boyfriend who couldn’t take good Instagram photos. His girlfriend (played by Heidi Gardner) coached him through, and Gillis really delivered. When he was enjoying himself, like in “Doctor’s Office” alongside Emil Wakim, the audience responded positively too. There were other bright spots scattered throughout the show as well. I can’t help but wonder if having to write around his particular style may have limited the potential for a more absurd and humorous episode. In summary, it was a challenging viewing experience, with the return of Mid-Day News sketch and Weekend Update serving as the standout moments. Tate McRae, who I’ve learned is not the same as Addison Rae, was quite impressive.

Here are the highlights:

Elon Musk Cold Open

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=CUpOMSJ1MdU

In this performance, everyone excels, but it’s Bowen Yang’s portrayal of JD Vance (“…hasn’t uttered a single ‘thank you’ during the past fifteen minutes of yelling at him.”) and Marcello Hernandez’s take on Marco Rubio that particularly stand out. I must also acknowledge the impressive work done on Hernandez’s hair, makeup, and costume – pushing the Rubio hairline up high accentuated his facial expressions and contributed to the sketch. Additionally, Mike Myers made a memorable appearance as Elon Musk.

CouplaBeers

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=KUPSTQSGb50

This humorous take on a depression commercial could potentially be shared with dads globally. The unexpected scene without pants was amusing, and Gillis’ performance made it even more so. Personally, it didn’t resonate with me, but I admired its creativity.

Mid-Day News 2

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=uS2eytYuE4s&t=15s

Without a doubt, this sketch was the standout of the evening! I’m thrilled they decided to reintroduce it. Ego Nwodim truly shines in it, and Gillis complements her beautifully – although, he seemed a bit too relaxed, which, for our context, proved effective. The script was packed with hilarious one-liners delivered swiftly, and the plotline developed nicely, reaching a fitting climax.

The Sound

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=2IFxI4hxelQ

In the “Please Don’t Destroy” episode focusing on a music competition, a contestant named Gillis possesses an angelic voice that leaves all four judges pressing their turnaround buttons. However, as it is revealed that he’s an eccentric character, the judges grapple with whether to advance him further. The tension between finding him repulsive yet intrigued by his talent creates a compelling dynamic, and the performances from both Martin Herlihy (the British judge) and Ego Nwodim (her character zooming on her chair) are particularly noteworthy, providing much-needed humor to the scene.

Weekend Update

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=bVFPBTOMt3g

The Weekend Update segment seemed lively and swift-moving. Standout moments included Colin Jost’s take on Elon Musk, as well as Karla Sofía Gascón and Michael Che joking about the departure of black hosts from MSNBC (“Just one more to go.”). The joke about Andrew Cuomo particularly amused me. (I must admit, I enjoy it when they make odd noises). Jane Wickline’s trolley problem song was both grim and absurd, and the accompanying trolley problem visual made it even funnier for those watching at home. Marcello Hernandez’s movie guy character, an over-the-top enthusiast who hasn’t actually seen movies but adores Spongebob, was also quite entertaining.

Cut for Time

I’ve found myself diving headfirst into the world of musical guests from Saturday Night Live, and let me tell you, Tate McRae did not disappoint with her performance of “Sports Car”! It was a blast, oozing fun and sex appeal, all while showcasing some truly impressive choreography. She reminded me a lot of the one and only Britney Spears. Kudos to this rising diva for nailing it on such a big stage. My friend, who’s a Tate fan, filled me in that we’re called “Tater Tots” in her fandom (though I swear the bar was deafening, so I might have heard “Taters,” or even “Tates”).

• Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim got to work this episode (and thank god).

In “Winery Tour,” I found myself mimicking the sensation of having an egg in my mouth, smiling with my nose, and extending my hands as if catching a newborn. This approach seemed to resonate with Gillis earlier, but perhaps there was room for more playfulness and eccentricity to make it even more engaging.

• I’m disappointed with some of these sketches as they had the potential to be more eccentric but ended up being too monotonous. A few could have ventured into the realm of the absurd, but instead, they remained predictable. In “Wedding Interruption,” where a bride is confronted about the numerous redeemable sex coupons she’s distributed over the years, I found myself writing “What are we doing here?” in my notes, only to realize I had already written it before.

As a movie buff, I must admit, I had a hunch that another male podcast skit might be on the horizon. However, it seemed remarkably similar to Shane Gillis’ shtick, which made me wonder…

• A sweet tribute to David Johansen at the end.

2025-03-02 22:54