- Gillis was fired from the show in 2019, just days before his debut, after clips resurfaced showing him using racial slurs and homophobic language.
What he says: Thompson noted, “I can’t really say if they’re going to get it back or not. It’s not my decision.”
- “But if he were to come back, then yes, I think we should have some sort of real discussion where we’re not too drawn on by people’s actions,” he said.
- “Everyone focuses on a specific word or a specific part of the monologue, and then the rest of the monologue or even the rest of the show gets overshadowed.”
Zoom: Peter Micelli, CEO and co-founder of Range Media Partners, argued that most of Gillis’ monologue was self-deprecating and that people don’t watch comedians who don’t test boundaries.
- “We need to support artists more than ever to push these boundaries, let’s relax a little. It’s a balance we desperately need,” he told Media Trends Live on Tuesday.
The big picture: Thompson said it’s a “more scrutinized” time for comedy, as society becomes more “reactive to every little thing.”
- Thompson said: “I don’t think jokes are necessarily harmless just because they’re jokes and you didn’t want it to be a certain way. I think you have to educate yourself about how things can impact people.”
- The Emmy-winning actor and comedian said criticism over jokes that didn’t work well made him rethink his approach, adding that he prefers to tease people about things he thinks they would laugh at, too.
What to watch: Asked what SNL would look like in a post-Lorne Michaels era, Thompson said the show would probably still be in good hands with people like Tina Fey, Seth Meyers or Steve Higgins.
- “We don’t want to think about that time, but I think it’s a solid foundation that he’s laid, and there’s always talented people to put in place and that’s going to continue.”
- Even though Fey didn’t take the job, Thompson said, “I’m sure there’s plenty of backup, and I’m sure she’ll be on the periphery if we need her, if I’m still here.”
Gn entert
