Shane Gillis hosted Saturday Night Live on 11 October 2026, seven years after his dismissal from the program in 2019. His opening monologue prompted sharp reactions from viewers who called jokes about women offensive and sexist. Critics at Variety and Vulture described the monologue as a bomb.

A Dr. Seuss-inspired sketch during the episode included a not-safe-to-air slip, and Gillis later said sorry for the slip. The Guardian reported the show extended what it called a disappointing stretch of shows for the season.