Shane Gillis accidentally dropped an F-bomb during a Dr. Seuss-inspired sketch during his stint as host of “SNL.”
The comedian played Zackary, an aggressively protective son who interrupts a reading of “Green Eggs and Ham” to defend his elderly father from Sam-I-Am’s incessant questioning. When Andrew Dismukes’ character repeatedly pressures his father to try the titular dish, Gillis steps in to end the interrogation.
“He doesn’t like them!” Gillis blurted, seemingly going off-script.
The error did not go unnoticed by Mikey Day’s Lorax, who then incorporated the error into the sketch. During a heated argument with his son, he kicked Zackary out of the house, declaring, “You’re a loser and you said a bad word!”
“Yes, I did,” Gillis replied, acknowledging the accident.
The on-air slip adds another chapter to Gillis’ complicated history with “SNL.” The comedian was hired as a featured actor in 2019 before being fired days later when podcast clips resurfaced containing racist and homophobic remarks. He eventually returned to Studio 8H as host in February 2024, joking about his firing in his opening monologue.
“I was fired from this show a while ago. But, you know, please don’t look for that,” he told the audience at the time. He returned for a second stint in March 2025, making Saturday’s episode his third time leading the NBC sketch comedy series.
The Dr. Seuss sketch began innocently enough, with Dismukes reciting the familiar rhymes of “Green Eggs and Ham” before Gillis’ character stepped in to question his intentions.
“What’s the endgame? Why do you want him to eat that stuff?” asked Zackary. “Is it about money? My dad is older, he’s confused.”
The exchange quickly escalated into a full-blown family feud, with Zackary accusing his father of being vulnerable to scams, including a previous incident in which he sent $9,000 worth of Target gift cards to someone in Mumbai. His father fired back by mocking Zackary’s career at Jimmy John’s, which his son insists on referring to by the fancier term “James Jonathon.”
Things got even more personal when Zackary opens up about his parents’ failed marriage, revealing that his mother left his father for the Lorax.
“Have you seen the Lorax? He’s two feet tall and his whole face is a mustache,” Gillis said. “And right now, that dirty hippie is going after your wife.”
The sketch ultimately returns to its original premise, with the father finally agreeing to try the green eggs and ham – only for Sam-I-Am to reveal that Zackary’s suspicions were justified all along.
“Yes, I’m happy to comply, just send five thousand dollars in Walmart gift cards to my friends in Dubai,” Dismukes’ character said.
“I told you he was a crook,” Zackary said.
Gillis hosted the October 10 episode alongside musical guest Rosalía.
Gn entert
