Shane Gillis: The Comedian Who Turned SNL Rejection into Comedy Stardom

In September 2019, Shane Gillis became perhaps the most talked-about comedian in America for exactly five days. NBC announced him as a new cast member for Saturday Night Live, and within hours, old podcast clips surfaced featuring offensive language. By September 16th, he was fired. Most careers would have ended there. But Gillis didn’t apologize profusely or disappear. Instead, he doubled down on comedy—and won bigger than ever.

Today, less than five years later, Gillis has accomplished what most comedians spend lifetimes chasing. His Netflix series “Tires” became the platform’s most-watched show on its premiere day. His podcast “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast” is the most subscribed-to show on Patreon. His estimated net worth has reached $16 million. He’s performed in arenas, hosted the ESPY Awards, and appeared in a Super Bowl commercial. The SNL firing wasn’t a career-ending disaster—it was a liberation.

This article explores the complete journey of Shane Gillis: from Pennsylvania football player to comedy phenomenon. We’ll examine what makes his comedy tick, how he recovered from public humiliation, and what his success reveals about modern entertainment and authenticity in an age of algorithmic gatekeeping.

Shane Gillis

From Football Field to Comedy Stage: The Unexpected Path

Shane Michael Gillis was born on December 11, 1987, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, a small town outside Harrisburg that most Americans have never heard of. His childhood wasn’t shaped by comedy clubs or comedy albums. Instead, it was shaped by football. At Trinity High School in nearby Camp Hill, Gillis played offensive tackle—a position that requires size, strength, and a certain kind of confidence. Listed at 6’4″ and 275 pounds, he was good enough to be recruited by the United States Military Academy at West Point.

But West Point wasn’t for him. He transferred out during his first year and played football at Elon University in North Carolina before being asked to leave. Rather than pursue professional football, Gillis returned to Pennsylvania, attended community college, and eventually graduated from West Chester University with a degree in history. After college, he worked as a Honda salesman and spent six months teaching English in Spain. Nothing about this trajectory suggested future comedy stardom.

Gillis didn’t start performing comedy until 2012, at age 25. He was already older than many comedians when they’re launching their careers. But this late start became an advantage. Unlike comedians who grew up obsessed with the form, Gillis came to it almost accidentally, with a perspective shaped by real-world experience: sales, teaching, sports, and working-class Pennsylvania life. This outsider perspective would become his greatest asset.

He began performing regularly in Harrisburg and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, honing his craft in small venues and local clubs. In 2015, he placed third at Helium Comedy Club’s annual “Philly’s Phunniest” tournament in Philadelphia. The next year, he won it. More importantly, in 2016, he co-founded “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast” with fellow comedian Matt McCusker. The podcast was unscripted, unfiltered, and completely authentic—a format that would eventually become more important to his career than any television appearance.

2019: The Rise and Fall That Changed Everything

By 2019, Gillis was gaining momentum in the comedy world. Comedy Central named him an “Up Next” comedian after his performance at Clusterfest. That same year, he was recognized as a “New Face” at the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal, one of the most prestigious honors in comedy. During an interview at the festival, fellow comedian Robert Kelly interrupted him to say, “You’re very funny, dude… I mean, I wanted to hate it.” Gillis was ascending.

Then came September 12, 2019. NBC announced that Shane Gillis, along with Bowen Yang and Chloe Fineman, would join the cast of Saturday Night Live as featured cast members. It was the kind of opportunity that defines careers. SNL had launched countless comedians into stardom. For Gillis, it seemed like the validation he’d been working toward.

Within hours, everything changed. An independent journalist named Seth Simons unearthed clips from a 2018 episode of “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast.” In these clips, Gillis and co-host Matt McCusker discussed Philadelphia’s Chinatown in mock East Asian accents. Gillis used the word “chink,” an ethnic slur for Chinese people. He also used derogatory language about other groups. The clips spread rapidly across social media.

The context matters, though it’s complicated. Gillis argued he was imitating a 1940s white landlord, not expressing his own views. The jokes were meant to be satirical commentary on racism, not endorsements of racism. But context is slippery in the age of social media. Bowen Yang, who was being celebrated as SNL’s first Asian American cast member, suddenly became the counterpoint to Gillis in the narrative. The contrast was too perfect for media outlets to resist: progressive inclusion versus regressive comedy.

Gillis issued a semi-apology, calling himself “a comedian who pushes boundaries.” But NBC executives panicked. They feared boycotts and sponsor backlash. On September 16th, just four days after the hiring announcement, NBC released a statement saying Gillis “will not be joining SNL” and that his podcast comments were “offensive, hurtful, and unacceptable.” He was fired before he ever performed a sketch.

Interestingly, Lorne Michaels—the legendary SNL producer—revealed years later that he wasn’t the one who made the decision. NBC executives forced it on him. Michaels was a fan of Gillis and wanted to keep him. But the network was in panic mode, and Gillis became collateral damage in the culture war.

The Podcast Resurrection: How Direct-to-Fan Media Saved His Career

Here’s where Gillis’s story diverges from other canceled comedians. He didn’t launch a victimhood narrative. He didn’t go on talk shows explaining how he’d been misunderstood. He didn’t write a lengthy apology or promise to be better. Instead, he told Joe Rogan, “I don’t want to be a victim—I want to be a comedian. So I don’t want to come on and do stuff where I’m, like, ‘Yeah, it was unfair how I was treated.’ It’s like, no, I get it—I understand why I was treated that way. I said wild shit. I’m going to keep saying wild shit.”

This attitude—neither defiant nor apologetic, just committed to his craft—resonated with audiences. And crucially, he had a direct channel to those audiences: his podcast.

“Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast” had been running since 2016, but it exploded after the SNL firing. Suddenly, Gillis had a platform where he could speak directly to listeners without network filters or media interpretation. The podcast was unscripted, often rambling, and completely authentic. Listeners paid one, five, or ten dollars per month for access to bonus content. By 2024, the show had become the most subscribed-to podcast on Patreon, with hundreds of thousands of paying subscribers.

This wasn’t just a career pivot—it was a fundamental shift in how comedians build audiences. Traditional media had rejected him. But the direct-to-fan model embraced him. Podcasting proved that gatekeepers weren’t necessary anymore. If you had talent and authenticity, you could build a massive audience without network approval.

Gillis’s appearances on Joe Rogan’s podcast accelerated this. Starting in 2021, he appeared multiple times on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” which reaches approximately 11 million listeners—roughly twice the typical audience of Saturday Night Live. These appearances weren’t promotional appearances where Gillis defended himself. They were genuine conversations where he discussed comedy, philosophy, and life. Audiences responded to the authenticity.

By 2021, Gillis had built a fanbase that rivaled many mainstream comedians. And this fanbase was intensely loyal, not because they agreed with everything he said, but because they respected his refusal to compromise or perform contrition.

The Netflix Phenomenon: How “Tires” Became the Streaming Giant’s Biggest Hit

In December 2020, Gillis and filmmaker John McKeever launched “Gilly and Keeves,” a web series featuring comedy sketches. The show was released on YouTube and built a dedicated following. Sketches like “ISIS Toyota,” “Uncle Daycare,” and “Trump Speed Dating” showcased Gillis’s ability to work across different comedy formats. The collaboration between Gillis and McKeever proved so effective that they formed Dad Sick Productions, a production company dedicated to creating original comedy content.

But their real breakthrough came with “Tires.” McKeever and Gillis created a pilot for a scripted comedy series about a struggling automotive repair shop. The show featured Gillis as a character named Shane, working alongside Steve Gerben and other actors. The humor was grounded, character-driven, and genuinely funny. They initially released the pilot on YouTube, hoping to recoup their investment if they could sell it.

In February 2024, Netflix came calling. The streaming giant signed Gillis and McKeever to a deal that included “Tires” as a scripted comedy series. Netflix wasn’t just buying a show—they were betting on Gillis’s ability to draw audiences. The first season premiered on May 23, 2024.

What happened next shocked the entertainment industry. On its premiere day, “Tires” became Netflix’s most-watched show. It surpassed “Bridgerton” Season 3, which had been a massive hit. A show about a tire shop, created by and starring a controversial comedian, had become Netflix’s biggest premiere. The streaming platform immediately renewed the show for a second season, which premiered in June 2025. Netflix has since renewed “Tires” for a third season scheduled for 2026.

Why did “Tires” succeed so dramatically? Several factors converge. First, the show is genuinely funny. The writing is sharp, the characters are well-developed, and the humor feels authentic rather than manufactured. Second, Gillis brought his fanbase with him. His podcast listeners, YouTube subscribers, and comedy fans were primed to watch. Third, and perhaps most importantly, the show represented something audiences were hungry for: comedy that didn’t apologize, that didn’t preach, that just tried to be funny.

“Tires” also demonstrated that Gillis could work in scripted formats, not just stand-up or podcasting. He could act, he could take direction, and he could be part of a larger creative vision. This expanded his appeal beyond comedy enthusiasts to general audiences.

The Mechanics of Comedy: What Makes Shane Gillis Funny

Understanding why Gillis resonates with audiences requires understanding how his comedy actually works. His material draws from observational comedy—the tradition of finding humor in everyday life. But he adds layers that make it distinctive.

First, there’s the rhythm and pacing. Gillis is a master of comedic timing. He’ll set up a premise, let it breathe, then subvert expectations with a punchline. He’s equally comfortable with long, rambling stories that build slowly as he is with quick one-liners. This versatility keeps audiences engaged.

Second, there’s his use of self-deprecation. Gillis frequently makes himself the butt of the joke. He jokes about his appearance, his intelligence, his social awkwardness. This disarms audiences. When a comedian is willing to mock themselves, it creates permission for audiences to laugh without feeling mean-spirited. The self-deprecation also makes the moments when he critiques others feel less personal.

Third, there’s the element of surprise. Gillis will often start a joke in one direction and take it somewhere completely unexpected. This unpredictability keeps audiences off-balance and engaged. They never quite know where he’s going, which makes the punchlines hit harder.

Fourth, there’s his use of voice and physicality. At 6’4″ and with a Pennsylvania accent, Gillis has a distinctive physical presence. He uses his body to enhance jokes, shifting his posture and tone to create different characters or perspectives. This makes his comedy visually interesting, not just verbally.

Finally, there’s the element of truth. Gillis’s comedy often touches on genuine observations about American culture, politics, race relations, and social dynamics. Even when he’s being provocative or shocking, there’s usually a kernel of truth underneath. Audiences respond to this because it feels honest, not like manufactured outrage.

Comedian Jerrod Carmichael, whose special “Rothaniel” received universal critical acclaim, has called Gillis “one of the few truly funny standups working today.” Carmichael noted that “his material still feels dangerous” because “it’s truthful.” This assessment captures something essential: Gillis’s comedy works because audiences believe he means what he’s saying, even when he’s being deliberately provocative.

Beyond Stand-Up: Acting, Collaborations, and Cultural Expansion

While stand-up comedy remains Gillis’s foundation, his career has expanded significantly into other entertainment formats. His collaboration with filmmaker John McKeever has been particularly fruitful. Beyond “Tires” and “Gilly and Keeves,” McKeever and Gillis have created a production partnership that allows them to explore different creative avenues.

In 2023, Gillis appeared in a recurring role on the Peacock series “Bupkis,” starring Pete Davidson. The show gave him experience working in a larger production environment and demonstrated his ability to work alongside established actors and directors. His appearances on “Bupkis” showed that he could take direction and integrate into ensemble casts.

In February 2025, Gillis appeared in a Bud Light commercial that aired during Super Bowl LIX. He shared screen time with NFL star Peyton Manning and rapper Post Malone. The commercial was titled “Big Men on Cul-De-Sac” and represented an attempt by Anheuser-Busch to win back its traditionally masculine audience after the 2023 Bud Light boycott. While the commercial received mixed reviews from advertising critics, it demonstrated that major brands now saw Gillis as a bankable celebrity.

In 2025, Gillis hosted the ESPY Awards, ESPN’s annual awards show celebrating athletic achievement. Hosting a major televised event represented another milestone in his mainstream acceptance. He appeared alongside his then-girlfriend Grace Brassel, a social media personality, and delivered comedy that resonated with the sports audience.

Gillis has also appeared in upcoming film projects. He has a supporting role in “Easy’s Waltz,” a film that was originally written for comedian Norm Macdonald before Macdonald’s death. He’s also involved in the post-production film “Madden,” demonstrating his continued expansion into acting.

Perhaps most unexpectedly, in March 2025, Gillis was added as a playable character to EA Sports College Football 25’s Ultimate Team mode. He appears as a 98-rated middle linebacker for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, as part of the ‘Names of the Game’ promotional event. This inclusion in a major video game franchise represents his cultural penetration into unexpected demographics.

The Austin Move: Philosophy and Personal Evolution

In 2023, Gillis made a significant life decision: he relocated from New York City to Austin, Texas. This move wasn’t just geographic—it was philosophical. He cited Austin’s expanding stand-up comedy scene, particularly the activity around Joe Rogan’s Comedy Mothership, as a primary reason. He also mentioned practical considerations: Texas has no state income tax, which is significant for someone earning millions annually.

But there’s a deeper reason for the move that reflects Gillis’s values. Austin represents a different approach to comedy and entertainment. It’s a city where comedians can perform multiple nights per week, where the comedy scene is collaborative rather than competitive, and where there’s less emphasis on industry politics and more emphasis on the craft itself.

In a January 2024 appearance on “This Past Weekend,” Gillis explained his philosophy: “I wanted to live in a place where you can do stand-up during the week.” He noted that opportunities had expanded beyond New York and Los Angeles to cities like Nashville and Austin. The traditional model of comedians grinding it out in New York or Los Angeles before moving to television or film was becoming obsolete. Comedians could now build massive audiences by performing regularly in mid-sized cities.

Austin also represents a lifestyle choice. Gillis has spoken about appreciating aspects of Texas living, including frequent statewide emergency alerts that he finds amusing. He’s integrated into Austin’s comedy community, performing regularly at various venues and collaborating with local comedians.

On a personal level, Gillis was in a relationship with social media personality Grace Brassel. The couple publicly confirmed their relationship in July 2024 and appeared together at various public events. However, People Magazine reported in November 2025 that they had separated “a number of months” prior. The relationship represented Gillis’s integration into Austin’s social scene and celebrity culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why was Shane Gillis fired from SNL?

Shane Gillis was fired from Saturday Night Live after just five days in September 2019 due to controversy surrounding podcast clips from 2018. In these clips, Gillis used ethnic slurs including the word “chink” when discussing Chinatown in Philadelphia, and used derogatory language about other groups. While Gillis argued the comments were taken out of context and were meant as satire, NBC executives (not Lorne Michaels) forced the decision to remove him from the cast. Notably, Lorne Michaels later revealed the decision was not his own and was forced upon him by network executives.

2. What is Shane Gillis’ net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth (as of January 2026), Shane Gillis has an estimated net worth of $16 million. His wealth comes from multiple sources including stand-up comedy tours, podcasting (particularly “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast,” the most subscribed-to podcast on Patreon), his YouTube channel “Gilly and Keeves” (1.1 million subscribers, 147 million views), Netflix projects including the series “Tires,” and various endorsement deals including a Super Bowl LIX Bud Light commercial.

3. Is Shane Gillis on Netflix?

Yes. Shane Gillis stars in and co-created the Netflix comedy series “Tires,” which premiered in May 2024. He also serves as a writer and executive producer on the show. Season 1 became Netflix’s most-watched show on its premiere day, even surpassing Season 3 of “Bridgerton.” Season 2 premiered in June 2025, and Netflix has renewed the show for a third season scheduled to premiere in 2026. Additionally, Gillis released his second comedy special “Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs” on Netflix in September 2023.

4. What is Shane Gillis’ comedy style?

Shane Gillis is known for observational comedy with elements of black humor, blue humor, shock humor, insult comedy, and satire. His material often covers everyday life, current events, pop culture, American politics, race relations, self-deprecation, drinking culture, sports, developmental disabilities, and American history. Critics describe him as having a friendly demeanor that distracts audiences while he delivers social insight mixed with self-deprecating sex jokes. His comedy is characterized as “dangerous” because it feels truthful and unpredictable.

5. Where is Shane Gillis from?

Shane Gillis was born on December 11, 1987, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, a town outside Harrisburg. He grew up in central Pennsylvania and played football in high school as an offensive tackle. He attended Trinity High School in nearby Camp Hill before briefly attending West Point and later graduating from West Chester University with a degree in history.

6. What is “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast”?

“Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast” is a weekly podcast co-hosted by Shane Gillis and fellow comedian Matt McCusker, which they launched in 2016. As of 2024, it is the most subscribed-to podcast on Patreon, with hundreds of thousands of listeners paying monthly for access to bonus content. The podcast features long, unscripted conversations and has been influential in building Gillis’s fanbase, particularly after his SNL firing.

7. What is “Gilly and Keeves”?

“Gilly and Keeves” is a web series created by Shane Gillis and filmmaker John McKeever, launched in December 2020. The series features comedy sketches and has become popular on YouTube, with the channel accumulating 1.1 million subscribers and 147 million views. Notable sketches include “ISIS Toyota,” “Uncle Daycare,” and “Trump Speed Dating.” The show is part of Dad Sick Productions, the production company founded by Gillis and McKeever.

8. Did Shane Gillis host SNL again?

Yes. After being fired in 2019, Shane Gillis returned to host Saturday Night Live on February 24, 2024 (Season 49, Episode 12), nearly four and a half years later. His hosting received mixed reviews from critics. Additionally, in October 2024, Gillis revealed that he had declined an offer to impersonate Donald Trump for the entire 50th season of SNL in order to attend “Coke Magic,” a show at the Skankfest comedy festival in Las Vegas.

9. What is Shane Gillis’ relationship status?

Shane Gillis was in a relationship with social media personality Grace Brassel, which they publicly confirmed in July 2024. They appeared together at various public events, including when Gillis hosted the 2025 ESPY Awards. However, People Magazine reported in November 2025 that the couple had separated “a number of months” prior.

10. Where does Shane Gillis live?

Shane Gillis relocated from New York City to Austin, Texas in 2023. He cited Austin’s expanding stand-up comedy scene (particularly activity around Joe Rogan’s Comedy Mothership) and practical considerations such as Texas’s lack of state income tax as reasons for the move. He has also mentioned wanting to live in a place where he could perform stand-up during the week.

The Future of Comedy: What Shane Gillis Represents

Shane Gillis’s journey from Pennsylvania football player to comedy phenomenon represents more than just a personal success story. It’s a blueprint for how artists can thrive in modern entertainment by staying authentic, building direct audience relationships, and refusing to compromise their vision for institutional approval.

His SNL firing could have ended his career. Instead, it liberated him. Freed from network constraints and the pressure to be palatable to mainstream audiences, Gillis could pursue comedy on his own terms. He built an audience through podcasting, touring, and YouTube—platforms that rewarded authenticity over polish. When Netflix came calling, they weren’t trying to change him. They were betting on him exactly as he was.

The success of “Tires” demonstrates that audiences are hungry for comedy that doesn’t apologize, that doesn’t preach, that simply tries to be funny. In an era of algorithmic gatekeeping and corporate media consolidation, Gillis proved that direct-to-fan platforms can be more powerful than traditional media. His podcast reaches more people than SNL. His YouTube channel has more views than most television shows. His Netflix series became the platform’s biggest hit.

But perhaps most importantly, Gillis represents a new kind of comedian: one who refuses to be confined to a single medium or audience. He performs stand-up in arenas. He hosts podcasts. He creates sketches. He acts in television series. He appears in Super Bowl commercials. He hosts major televised awards shows. He’s not trying to be a “stand-up comedian” or an “actor” or a “podcaster”—he’s simply trying to be funny and authentic across whatever platforms allow that.

For audiences, Gillis’s success is validating. It suggests that authenticity matters more than institutional approval. That comedy that pushes boundaries can succeed without apologizing. That comedians don’t need to be palatable to everyone to build massive audiences. That you can say things that offend some people and still be successful if you’re truthful and talented.

For the comedy industry, Gillis’s trajectory is instructive. It shows that the traditional path to success—grinding in comedy clubs, getting on television, becoming a “star”—is no longer the only path. Comedians can now build audiences directly through podcasting, YouTube, and touring. They can maintain creative control and artistic integrity while reaching millions of people. They can succeed without network approval.

As Gillis continues to tour, create new content, and expand his creative partnerships, his influence on comedy will likely only grow. He’s not just a successful comedian—he’s a model for how comedians can succeed in the modern media landscape. And for an industry that has historically been controlled by gatekeepers and institutions, that’s a genuinely revolutionary development.