Very Fine SNL People

So last week I got all excited because “Saturday Night Live” cast its first-ever Asian-American series regular member in Bowen Yang, who also happens to be gay. If you’ve been around these here Interwebs, you may have come across Bowen - who joined SNL last season as a writer - elevating simple lip-synch of dialogue to a fine gay art. For example, here is his Miranda Priestly, which is basically exquisite.

when u Miranda Priestly. pic.twitter.com/IvQ75lVesJ

— Bowen Yang 杨伯文 (@bowenyang) August 23, 2018

And here is he performing Tyra Banks’ infamous “I was rooting for you!” rant.

when u gay pic.twitter.com/3q5yJHxIGP

— Bowen Yang 杨伯文 (@bowenyang) May 5, 2018

Like, yeah, this guy is gonna be fun.

But then the news was promptly and unceremoniously ruined because along with Yang and Chloe Fineman, the show also cast stand-up Shane Gillis.

Now, I had never heard of Shane Gillis before. And, perhaps neither had the casting folks at SNL. Because shortly after the announcement video of Gillis talking on his podcast “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast” emerged where he is being - and I cannot emphasize this enough - wildly racist.

today SNL announced the hiring of its first cast member of East Asian descent, and also this guy pic.twitter.com/0FAGJZJUkK

— Seth Simons (@sasimons) September 12, 2019

Now, I know, you’re thinking, well this could be old. Maybe he has grown? Nahhh. This is from September 2018. So, not ancient history, just last year. I’m pretty sure I have mustard in my fridge older than that.

So SNL stepped on its own great news of finally bringing some Asian inclusion into their cast by also hiring someone who is insanely racist against Asians. But, like those old late night infomercials, there’s more! Not only is Gillis racist, he is also sexist and homophobic because why be one when you can be all three? He railed against “white f*ggot comics” and said “white chicks are literally the bottom” of a list of funny types of comedians. Neat-O.

So far, no response from SNL other than deafening silence. But Gillis managed to hop on his Notes app and post an “apology” which talked about how as a comic his job is to push boundaries and take risks and also in which he says “I’m happy to apologize to anyone who’s actually offended by anything I’ve said.”

Cool, very cool. Seems like a great guy. I can’t wait until the first day back at SNL when Bowen Yang and Kate McKinnon have to smile and shake this dude’s hand. Won’t that be fun for everyone?

Also, let’s talk about pushing boundaries and risks. Because calling Asians “ch*nks” and complaining about having to interact with someone who has an accent is so edgy and so risky, you guys. No, this kind of “comedy,” if you want to call it that, is just lazy. It is beyond lazy. It’s been around forever and it breaks no new ground, takes no real risks and breaks zero boundaries. It just says, “Hey, these people who exist in the world and are different than me through no fault of their own, isn’t that so stupid and aren’t they funny to laugh at?” No, dude, it’s not.

Here’s the thing, it’s 2019 and to even think of casting someone in a high profile role without scouring their social media and online history is fully bananas. But, the more cynical side of me thinks SNL knew all about his racism and sexism and homophobia and decided to hire him anyway. They decided they needed to “both sides” the cast. You know, maybe some very fine comics who just happen to be Nazis or something. Like, isn’t intentionally hiring a racist the most 2019 thing you can think of? Anyway, Giant Meteor 2020 is looking better and better.

EDIT: And like that, Gillis and SNL have parted ways. Of course he left with another Notes app statement with this parting shot, "I have always been a MAD TV guy anyway." Cute, real cute. Well, I cannot wait for him to become even more famous as a right-wing martyr.

Oh, and Unknown 3:33PM, apparently you did not read the entire beginning of the post where I praise how incredibly funny and talented Bowen Yang is. But then, your assumption that an Asian and gay comic would not be selected because of his or her talent in the first place speaks volumes. Instead the question should be, why have their been no Asian and so few gay comics on SNL, when we know there are funny and talented Asian and gay comics in the world? That, that is the question. Unless you think Asians and gays aren't funny, in which case that is entirely your problem - and Shane Gillis's.