As a fervent admirer of the rich tapestry that is Saturday Night Live (SNL), I’ve had the privilege to witness its ebb and flow over the years, with its fair share of scandals, controversies, and triumphs. Lorne Michaels, the enigmatic showrunner, has always been at the helm, steering this ship through stormy seas.
2019 found me shaking my head as Saturday Night Live parted ways with Shane Gillis before he even graced their stage. His dismissal came after old podcast recordings of his, containing offensive racial and homophobic remarks, resurfaced online, causing quite a stir. Interestingly, Lorne Michaels, SNL’s big boss, didn’t seem to share the same viewpoint on this decision, as he recently shared his thoughts on the subject.
In the end, it was NBC who decided to let go of Gillis, not Michael, and he expressed his displeasure about the move when speaking to the Wall Street Journal.
He said something stupid, but it got blown up into the end of the world. I was angry. I thought, ‘You haven’t seen what we’re going to do, and what I’m going to try to bring out in him, because I thought he was the real thing.’
The account indicates that Saturday Night Live (SNL) has dealt with a number of contentious remarks in its history. To illustrate this, consider instances such as hosting figures like Donald Trump and Andrew Dice Clay, Norm Macdonald’s O.J. Simpson jokes, and Sinéad O’Connor tearing a photo of the pope – these are just a few examples demonstrating that Lorne Michaels has managed criticism in the past.
Nevertheless, the situation with Gillis was an uncontainable fire. Moreover, it’s worth noting that the head of SNL expressed his disagreement with the comedian’s dismissal, stating it was not a decision he supported.
It was quite powerful coming from those in authority. Still, I found myself not aligned with them, yet I managed to comprehend their stance.
Eventually, the comedian and the program parted ways. In the subsequent years, Gillis gained significant recognition as a stand-up comedian through his special “Beautiful Dogs,” available with a Netflix subscription. He also had the opportunity to host an episode of SNL’s Season 49, which was set to air on the 2024 TV schedule. The Wall Street Journal article mentioned that Lorne Michaels acknowledged some symbolism in his decision to invite the stand-up comedian back.
18 months after getting fired from Saturday Night Live (SNL), Shane Gillis reappeared as its host, humorously remarking “I probably shouldn’t be up here.” This echoes the experiences of Norm Macdonald, who also stirred up controversy with his jokes and was dismissed in 1998. Interestingly enough, Macdonald returned to host SNL in 1999, mirroring Gillis’ journey. This suggests that the show’s management has had its hands full dealing with a good amount of controversy over time.
As SNL’s Season 50 guest lineup expands and Pete Davidson’s stand-up special “Tires” debuts on Netflix, one can’t help but speculate if he might host again. Given Lorne Michaels’ recent comments about initially not wanting to let him go, and the fact that he has returned once before, it’s anyone’s guess what the future holds.
At the moment, here’s what we’ve established: The current season of Saturday Night Live (SNL) is being broadcasted, and it can be watched every Saturday at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC or with a Peacock subscription. Additionally, we will make sure to share any new developments concerning Gillis and Michaels’ relationship.
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2024-10-24 22:37