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COMEDY FALLOUT

Shane Gillis Monologue Draws 'SNL' Backlash

Shane Gillis's third Saturday Night Live hosting gig landed with groans instead of laughs, and Elizabeth Banks piled on.

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BY OBSERVER ENTERTAINMENT DESK

The Weekly Observer

OCT 19, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
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Comedian Shane Gillis hosted Saturday Night Live for the third time on Oct. 10, and his seven-minute monologue of self-deprecating jokes about his weight and appearance quickly drew backlash online. A bit about his receding hairline drew audible groans from the studio audience, according to a New York Times report republished by GV Wire.

Actress Elizabeth Banks jumped into the pile-on, commenting "Nailed it" on actor Dan Levy's Instagram video criticizing the monologue.

Complex adds that one punchline got a muted response from the crowd, reviving scrutiny of Gillis seven years after NBC fired him from the show over resurfaced podcast clips.

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