During his recent hosting appearance on Saturday Night Live, comedian Shane Gillis accidentally used an F-word while performing a Dr. Seuss-inspired sketch.
Gillis portrayed Zackary, an overprotective son who interrupts a reading of Green Eggs and Ham. In the scene, Gillis’ character steps in to stop Andrew Dismukes’ portrayal of Sam-I-Am from pressuring his elderly father into trying the famous meal. The scripted exchange deviated when Gillis impulsively shouted, “He doesn’t f—–g like them!”
The impromptu slip did not go unnoticed. Mikey Day, playing the Lorax, later integrated the mistake into the sketch’s conclusion. During a heated argument, the Lorax ejected Zackary from the home, telling him, “You’re a loser and you said a bad word!” Gillis improvised a response, admitting, “Yes, I did.”
This incident marks another moment in Gillis’ complex relationship with the NBC series. He was originally hired as a featured cast member in 2019 but was dismissed after past podcast comments resurfaced. He made his return to Studio 8H as a host in February 2024, referencing his previous termination during his opening monologue. This October episode served as his third time hosting the show.
Before the profanity slipped out, the sketch followed its rhyming premise. Zackary questioned Sam-I-Am’s motives, suspecting a scam and accusing his father of vulnerability. The conflict escalated to include family drama, with Zackary revealing his mother left his father for the Lorax due to his appearance.
The scene eventually looped back to the original story. The father agreed to eat the green eggs and ham, but Sam-I-Am confirmed Zackary’s fears were valid. Dismukes’ character revealed he intended to send five thousand dollars in Walmart gift cards to “friends” in Dubai. Zackary concluded the segment by stating, “I told you he was a scammer.”
Gillis headlined the October 10 episode, which also featured musical guest Rosalía.
Gillis really just owned it by saying yes right back to the Lorax. That was a perfectly natural reaction.
Wait, Sam-I-Am was running a scam all along? That plot twist caught me completely off guard.
I love that SNL actually kept the improv moment in. It made the sketch so much funnier and authentic!