Shane Gillis hosted Saturday Night Live on 11 October 2026, seven years after getting let go from the cast in 2019. His opening monologue drew immediate criticism from viewers who called jokes about women demeaning toward women. Critics at Variety and Vulture said the monologue fell flat.

A Dr. Seuss-inspired sketch during the episode included a not-safe-to-air slip, and Gillis later issued an apology. The Guardian said the night added to what it called a run of underwhelming episodes for the season.