Gillis Returns to SNL with Mixed Monologue, Hegseth Satire, and Live F-Bomb

Key points

• Shane Gillis hosted SNL for the third time, with Rosalía as the musical guest.
• Gillis’s monologue focused on his weight, gym experiences, and a receding hairline resembling Adolf Hitler.
• The episode opened with a sketch mocking Pete Hegseth welcoming the USS Abraham Lincoln back to San Diego after a 300-day deployment.
• Gillis accidentally swore during a Dr. Seuss sketch and apologized at the end of the show.
• Critics and audiences gave mixed reactions to Gillis’s performance, with some praising his sketches and others criticizing the monologue.

Background

Gillis previously hosted SNL in February 2024 and March 2025. He was fired from the show in 2019 after a video surfaced of him using racial and anti-gay slurs. Lorne Michaels has since invited him back multiple times. Recent archive coverage notes that new cast member Grace Reiter was praised for saving the episode, and Rosalía’s performance coincided with the start of Grammy voting.

How outlets are covering it

The Hollywood Reporter and Variety both covered Gillis’s monologue, but Variety emphasized that it 'bombed' with the audience, while THR focused on the content of his jokes. Both outlets noted the live swearing incident. Variety highlighted the mixed audience reaction, while THR did not explicitly comment on the crowd's response. The cold open mocking Hegseth was covered by THR and archive sources, with the latter noting additional sketches mocking RFK Jr. and public executions.

Why it matters

The episode highlights ongoing tensions between SNL’s satirical approach and current political figures, particularly regarding the Department of War and military deployments. Gillis’s return also reflects the show’s efforts to reconcile with a former cast member after a controversial firing.

What to watch

Inde Navarrette will host the next SNL episode, a Halloween special, with Gracie Abrams as the musical guest.