Shane Gillis Hosts ‘SNL’ Again, Jokes About Bill Cosby and Compares Liberals to ‘Star Wars’ Villains

Gillis’ Stand-Up Monologue

Taking the stage for his monologue, Gillis started with jokes about both Trump and President Biden before shifting his focus to liberals, drawing a Star Wars comparison. “You guys are pretty liberal here,” he said to the audience. “Look, I understand being liberal, dude, it feels good. It’s powerful. It’s too powerful, dude. It’s like the Sith. You, like, lose yourself.” The audience’s response appeared mixed, but Gillis pushed forward with more risky humor, including a joke about white men awkwardly questioning their girlfriends about past relationships. Later in his monologue, Gillis shared his love for historical documentaries, particularly Ken Burns’ The Civil War, which he joked was unbearably long. “It’s 900 hours long. No one on Earth has ever finished it,” he quipped. He then made a controversial reference to Bill Cosby, suggesting the documentary could be used as a sleep aid: “That’s a little Cosby tip for you, actually. Who needs roofies when we have Ken Burns Presents: The History of the Buffalo on PBS?”

Gillis’ Complicated History with ‘SNL’

Gillis’ return to SNL comes just over a year after his hosting debut in February 2024. His involvement with the show has been a subject of controversy since he was initially hired in 2019 but fired before ever appearing on-air due to resurfaced racist, homophobic, and misogynistic remarks. Despite this, he has since built a successful stand-up career, leading to his reentry into the SNL spotlight.

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