Comedian Shane Gillis recently revealed on The Joe Rogan Experience that he assured Saturday Night Live producers his October monologue would be controversy-free, only to face immediate backlash over his gym-related jokes.
Despite his promises of a moderate performance, the set sparked public criticism regarding his comments on women’s attire.
- Gillis admitted he told producers he was delivering a “solid C-minus” set that would avoid any major controversy.
- The comedian maintains that SNL does not review material for comedians, leaving the content entirely in the performer’s hands.
Shane Gillis, who has now hosted Saturday Night Live three times, opened up about the internal pressure leading up to his October appearance. According to his comments on the Friday episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the comedian felt a need to reassure the show’s brass that he would play it safe.
“They were like, ‘What’s going on with the monologue?’ And I was like, ‘It’s not great, but I don’t say anything bad,’” Gillis recalled. “I was like, ‘Fellas, I’m giving you a solid C-minus of a monologue, but I promise there’s no controversy.’”
The monologue quickly pivoted to a critique of modern gym culture, specifically focusing on women’s workout gear. “I hadn’t been to the gym in so long, I didn’t know women just dress like whores now,” Gillis said during the live broadcast.
“Look, I’m sorry, there’s no other way to describe — Have you seen it? I’ve seen it. The shorts? Have you seen the shorts? Those neon, they’re like the only — They’re like artificial bait-colored.”
“You don’t write your set and give it to ’em,” Gillis explained to Joe Rogan. “Unless you’re not a comedian. I’m sure non-comics, they write the set for them.”
Unlike scripted sketches, which undergo rigorous rounds of table reads and executive edits, the monologue serves as a showcase for the host’s specific comedic brand. The following table illustrates the trajectory of Gillis’s involvement with the program, from his initial 2019 hiring to his recent hosting appearances.
During the podcast discussion, Joe Rogan, along with fellow comedians Mark Normand and Ari Shaffir, defended the material, suggesting the reaction was disproportionate to the joke itself. “It’s just a fun thing to say and it’s funny,” Rogan said. “That’s it. And this is a weird time where everyone’s just looking to get upset.”
The incident shows how difficult Gillis's path has been since his 2019 firing and subsequent return to the show. After being let go for using anti-Asian slurs and mocking Chinese accents, Gillis spent years rebuilding his reputation through independent podcasting and self-released specials.
