Gilly, the unfunniest returning SNL character…ever
Truth be told, when fellow Premium Hollywood writer David Medsker filleted several Kristin Wiig characters in his mid-February post, “Kristen Wiig must be stopped,” I thought he might have been a little hard on her. I generally like her stuff, but I’ll admit that Penelope and Target Lady are wearing a little thin.
Then I saw a brutal skit in which Wiig debuted a new character, Gilly.
It’s one thing when a skit is repetitive and funny, but when it’s repetitive and unfunny, it’s just annoying. Thinking that this skit went over like a lead balloon, I figured that would be the last we’d see of Gilly, but last Saturday, there was another skit — this time Gilly sabotaged her school’s science fair.
The only thing mildly funny about this skit is Kenan Thompson’s “don’t make a kid ride a horse with crazy eyes” bit. Otherwise it was the same, unfunny shtick as the first Gilly skit. Some people laughed in the audience, but I have no idea why. Maybe Lorne Michaels pumps the place full of laughing gas, I don’t know. Now I’m starting to think that Mr. Medsker really is onto something — has Wiig run out of funny characters?
So Gilly is my choice for the unfunniest returning SNL character — who else makes the list?
agreed
The thing is – and I won’t say this on my own piece, because I’m having too much fun reading the many dissenting opinions and don’t want to start a dialogue with these people – I actually think Wiig is incredibly talented. But I am sick to death of the majority of her characters. I don’t find annoying people funny. It’s the same reason I stopped watching “Seinfeld” about halfway through its run.
God help us if they bring back that bit she did with Steve Martin where she was the laid-off hausfrau that wouldn’t leave her husband alone at work. “Thomas? Thomas?” Didn’t even make it through that skit before hitting fast-forward.
As for unfunniest returning SNL character, my vote goes to Goat Boy. I wasn’t very fond of Mr. Peepers, either.
I also think that Kristen Wiig has talent. I don’t think she is the best current cast member, but she can be very funny sometimes.
However, my problem with her characters is that they are so overused and there are too many of them. I’m really tired of Kristen being in everything and there being entire sketches centered around her making a funny face.
I also think that Gilly is the most annoying recurring character I’ve ever seen. There have been many annoying characters on snl, but Gilly is both annoying and boring in my opinion.
Gilly gets my vote as most boring, most annoying, most needs to never return.
Other than Andy Samberg’s stuff (and Tina Fey as Sarah Palin), I haven’t seen much originality in SNL’s writing for a year or two. Don’t know why I keep recording it–optimism? nostalgia?
I’ve been thinking about how Wiig-centric the show has gotten. Let’s count her recurring characters, shall we? I’m going to assume Aunt Linda died when Amy Poehler left.
1. Target Lady
2. Penelope
3. Suze Orman
4. Jamie Lee Curtis
5. Kathi Lee Gifford
6. GILLY!
7. “Just kidding”
8. Woman who can’t keep a secret (name escapes me)
9. Two A-Holes (on hiatus?)
Wow. Nine characters, and I like one of them. Meanwhile, how many recurring bits does Bill Hader have? The Italian talk show host? Jason Sudekis has Joe Biden. Andy Samberg does nothing but digital shorts. Will Forte has MacGruber and the random dance routine at halftime for some losing sports team. Kenan Thompson has Deep House Dish. The other women have NONE that I can think of, save Michaela Watkins suffering through the Gifford skits. Fred Armisen has a couple, but I’m all right with them minimizing his screen time.
Again, I’d like to say that I love Wiig’s fearlessness, that she’s willing to make a fool of herself for a joke. I just wish she wasn’t trying so hard to piss me off in the process.
I honestly don’t get this….this has got to be the bottom of the bucket for SNL. I mean, they used to have a freaking driving cat on the show and that was some funny stuff. But 5 minutes of a skit that is majority about the others being taunted by a strange girl that only have a 4 word vocabulary…OMG! That is going to be a BIG HIT!
Sorry, SNL writers, you should of drank a red bull or had your triple mocha latte that day. And they don’t even bother to give her a “power point-esk” title….I mean, Massive Head Wound Harry had a title screen intro!
So, I don’t get it. Really. I don’t. Is this what 30-somethings are coming up with these days. What did you drink to much HFCS as a child! Oh, and I am in my 30’s……I just can’t take these skits. And like someone else said, I do DVR them, HOPING for something to happen.
I think we have all forgotten what funny is and for some how to be funny. There is nothing to GILLY..NOTHING! Let me come a write for you- I’ll make it funny again.
It’s almost as if the people at SNL think that they will NEVER go off the air, so, It really doesn’t matter. WAKE UP LORNE….stop being so greedy and get some people on there and pay them to be funny.
And just a quick note….what perv decided it was gonna be funny to have a foot fetish with Zac Efron….poor thing.
I think everyting she does is funny, but after a while it does get old.
Are all you people lacking a sense of humor? The Gilly skits are quite funny. There were so many funny parts in the Science Fair skit. I mean come on, Zack Efron in lederhosen and his fake German accent, Gilly’s nazi walk, Kenan and the wild horse eyes, Gilly eating the frog, etc. It crushes skits like Jon Bovi. To each their own I guess…I think Wiig is awesome!
I thought Gilly was funny… I don’t watch the show regularly. When I did watch it was Gilly at the Science Fair. I’m a teacher so I guess I wish people on the outside could see how funny these kids can really be sometimes! While I love them all…. I’ve had some wierdos (not too unlike Gilly) who make the day a bit more entertaining!
I love her and the Gilly skits. I am guessing that me returning here to watch the above skits over and over will really help the hits to this site. Could you do me a favor and add the Target Lady skits???? I would visit more often.
It’s been years since I watched anything out of SNL, and I’m upset it had to be the Gilly Science Fair clip. Not funny. Painfully boring. Zack Efrem in leiderhosen doing a bad German accent, making zero effort to hiding the fact he was reading the teleprompter didn’t help at all. But, I forgive stand-ins. The regular cast and writers should be ashamed, though. This is not quality comedy. It’s just dreck.
Kristen Wiig is very talented, but
Kristen Wiig is very talented but “Gilly” is the worst most unfunny thing I have ever seen on the show. Please discontinue it. I beg you.
Plus what is it with all the gay stuff? (Andy Samberg) If you want to kiss a lot of guys that’s fine. Just not on the show. It makes me want to stop watching.
Wiig is alright and she’s probably good if you take into account the severely skewed standards of the current SNL product. I don’t watch SNL anymore. It has become too painful too often. In the event that there is something funny (The Chronicles of Narnia rap, the Natalie Portman rap and the Tina Fey/Sarah Palin bits) it goes on Youtube anyway and I don’t have to suffer through the rest of the show that is sure to suck and fill me with grief that something that was once so funny could be reduced to that.
But, like an idiot, I tuned in last Saturday for a few moments. I turned in on just as the Gilly Science Fair sketch started. Painfully unfunny and the worst sketch I have ever seen just about covers it. The Keenan crazy eye horse thing was mildly amusing but the rest of it was absolutely dreadful. The exchanges between the teacher and Gilly went on forever and never once came in the vacinity of producing anything which approached a smile, grin or chuckle. Like a fool I kept watching hoping the sketch could redeem itself somehow, that a punchline or a line delivery would come in making it somewhat funny. I mean this is a comedy show right? Right? But alas it was just painful. I have no idea what the audience was laughing at or why, maybe SNL installed a live laugh track or maybe they do pump in laughing gas. But what I saw no one could honestly find funny. NO ONE. Stock footage of starving children has equal comedic value as the Gilly sketch, with the possible exception of Keenan’s science fair project. The sketch renewed my disgust and despair concerning SNL and has ensured that I will never ever make that same mistake, of turning to NBC on Saturday nights, ever again.
I thought the skits were hilarious. In fact, I found this blog while searching for the skits.
Painful and unfunny.
I think this message board is a science fair gone horribly awry! Gilly is full of the funny stuff I continue to watch SNL for! Catch-phrases, recurring themes, a politically correct leader, and a theme song (with dancing!) You guys are a bunch of fuddy-duddies! I watch the two episodes fairly regularly and plus, I say the catch-phrases at work with my friends. Oh well, what’s funny for some…
I LOVE the Gilly character! My sons and I couldn’t stop laughing when we saw the science fair skit a couple of weeks ago. “Sorry” and a mischievious grin are our new tag lines whenever we do something wrong. I found the other Gilly skit with Rosario Dawson and laughed my head off again. This skit and character are some of the funniest stuff I’ve seen on SNL in ages. Please Lorne Michaels, bring us more Gilly sketches!
Gilly is hilarious. I hated it the first time I saw it but a week later I found myself saying “Sorray”. I live in the ATL and I visited a friend in DC. I popped out a “Sorray” my friend and his wife both started laughing. They loved the Gilly skit. I can’t put my finger on why it’s funny but it is.
Kristen Wiig is hilarious. There hasn’t been a strong female lead on SNL since Gilda Radner. The Gilly skit is a spinoff of Little Johnnie Jokes that have been around forever. I could watch Gilly or any other Kristen character all day. A true SNL comedian. Keenan and Kristen are the only reason to watch SNL right now. I’m afraid those of you who knock the Gilly skits lack any real sense of humor, and have probably popped to many prozacs over the years.
i like it. offbeat and so darned weird it IS funny– after a few minutes, even. i wouldn’t want to see it every week but the straight guy saves it to me. “Giiiiiiilllllllllllleeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyy?!”
You’re stupid and nutts and have no humor at all!!! Gilley is the funniest skit yet, and Wiig is the funniest one to ever hit SNL male or female!!! I have seen every episode ever! since day one. The only good old characters was Chevy Chase, Bill was OK but not great till Caddyshack. Will is champ! And as far as Gilda Radner, she was as funny as an open casket funeral! The worst most suckiest retard ever to have a job at SNL is Andy Samberg! I am way more hilarious when I am fast asleep! I should work there!
Peace tight asses!
HEY!!!!! GILLY IS AWESOME HOW CAN YOU SAT THAT ITS NOT FUNNY I WILL GIVE YOU A LIST OF WHY ITS ONE OF THE MOST FUNNIEST SKITS ON DURING THE 21TH CENTURY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1: The theme song
2: SORRY( catchphrase)
3: The Nerd Liam
4: Sam, The kid that breaks his arms all of the time
5: The way she makes fun of the kids
6: The way everytime the teacher says Gilly she replys with; Hey,Whats up and/or Yeah
7: KRISTEN WIIG IS A LOT MORE FUNNIER THAN THE GUYS ON SNL!!!!!!!!!
So you can say that Gilly is not funny…but then you wuld be some heartless,humoress, losers. Maybe Kristen could teach you to have a sense of humor( or are you to sad to have one) All of my friends I have sent the vid to have laughed their asses off and they have forwarded it to who they know. So next time watch it untill you grow a heart.
-J.M<3
She stabs that frickin’ pretty boy Zack Efron with kitchen utensils , what’s not to love about that!? lol
Gillie is one of the funniest skits i’ve seen in a long time. Its moved me from tv to computer for entertainment. I hope we see more gillie skits.
Where did the idea for the Gilly character come from ? I love the Gilly sketches because, I guess, I identify with Gilly’s character. I see my 14 year old daughter as the character Gilly. However, rather than the school setting, it’s at home. Instead of the teacher it’s me. Instead of interrogating other students, it’s her brother or sometimes she just gets in trouble all on her own. (At age 3 or 4 she would write on the walls with Sharpie markers.) Since she was a little girl, if she got in trouble she would smile, and say, “I did it.” Now that she’s older, she says “Sorry” the same way that Gilly does with no remorse or with a “it’s no big deal” attitude. For example if her brother comes to me and says, “(Gilly) scratched me,” instead of denying it or trying to defend herself to get out of trouble she simply says, “sorry”. There is an innocence or naivety to Gilly’s character. Also, she doesn’t seem to understand the consequence of her actions, nor does she try to correct or even curb her inappropriate and annoying behavior. It’s absurd, yet funny, and sometimes, realistic. More Gilly sketches please!
I concur with Anita (above). After seeing the Gilly sketches, it’s now a running joke in our household to say “sorry” and put on a mischievous grin after we do something wrong. I have also memorized the “Gilly theme song” (very catchy). I am not a sketch critic like some of the writers above. However, I think it is important to remember that humor can come from any aspect of life. It is understandable that not everyone will see the same humor that I see in the Gilly sketches. As in the case of any sketch, it is when you can identify with a character that you see the humor. As in many cases on SNL, humor is used to point out human character flaws. Gilly is just another character in which we see human flaws. I think it’s hilarious. Kudos to the writer’s, producers, and Lorne Michaels for giving us the gift of humor on a weekly basis.
To the person that thinks the 1980’s skits Massive Headwound Harry and Toonsus the Driving Cat are better than current SNL skits…you’re an idiot. Everyone knows that the 80’s was a low point in SNL history. Don’t get me wrong, there’s something funny about a cat driving a car off of a cliff, but it’s funny because it’s so stupid, not because it’s creative or clever or smart or politically charged or because the cat puppet had talent. Kristen Wiig is an SNL gem.
OMG I want to break the tv when I see that stupid skit!
I think Gilly is hilarious….it is so annoying it is actually really funny. and I pretty much don’t find SNL that funny at all….
I agree with JN. And that theme song – Priceless!. When I saw the science fair skit I couldn’t stop laughing, esp at Kenan Thompson. And now all I can say is “Sorry” in Gilly’s voice because it’s so stupid it’s funny! HAH!
I know I am in the minority on this, the vast vast minority, but for some reason, Gilly has grown on me. Not the whole skit, not the whole schtik…just the “Gilly????…….sorry” Its awful I know. Its one of those things that are so stupid, so unfunny, that its actually funny when applied in real life.
example, I asked my wife “did you forget to pick up beer while at the grocery store?” she didnt answer knowing she forgot. I then deadpanned “Gilly??????” and she says “sorry”, its so rediculously stupid, we laugh. Id say just dont take it so seriously.
The only reason why I attempt to watch the gong show that has been SNL for the past many years is because of Kirstin Wiig. Her characters are hilarious – including Gilly. All three sketches of Gilly (I’ve seen three) were great. Her look is most of the joke – but, it’s a funny joke. The dance, the hair, her look…funny! Keep Gilly and definitely keep Kirstin to inject some much-need oestrogen to the boys club that is SNL (yes it is).
Gilly should be stopped…now. Usually the only funny part is when Keenan Thompson becomes exasperated with the idiotic teacher. Gilly should be put in juvenile detention.
I find Gilly to be hilarious! When I first saw it, I laughed so hard and showed it to the rest of my family. Now we all say “…Sorry.” I hope the keep up more Gilly; I find it so funny, thought that’s just me.
Gilly is an example of the most sophisticated/funny comedy, ever. Great humour mirrors our society: Gilly is the evil, cruel person, the criminal, the crook. She derives tremendous pride and joy from causing suffering and distress to others. Like many other criminals, she found out that all it takes, quite often in our political/religious/business world,
I caught SNL last night, mainly to see Regina Spektor, otherwise I don’t bother with the show unless I happen to know there is someone doing something worth watching on it. I was puzzled by the Gilly skit – it seemed that it could have something to it if it was fleshed out, but to me, that has been the problem with SNL for decades – there is so very little substance to their skits and their characters, even when they turn out a strong cast that goes on to stand on their own.
I grew up on the old school of SNL, with the original cast members, and I’ve had a hard time watching what they put out and stopped a long, long time ago. It is clear that they have talent; I just wonder why they don’t seem to be able to come up with new material that is funny and potentially classic.
I can’t stand most of the cast of SNL any more. Gilly is probably the most annoying skit that keeps being played. The only characters on SNL that I find funny are Darrel Hammond’s characters and the guy who plays the Governor of NY. Other than that, they could scrap the rest of the cast. I think SNL has run it’s course.
The Gilly skits are ridiculously funny. Gilly’s goofy dance and one word answers are on the mark for such an odd character. Throw in nerdy Liam and incapacitated Sam, their predicament is predictable, but their delivery is excellent, never short of hilarious. And the teacher scores great marks as the kind who simply can’t discipline and is clueless to troublemakers. I think some of you are looking too hard for humor when it’s poking you in the face.
I am not sure what everyone’s problem is. I love Gilley! I think they should do 2 Gilley skits every week. And when they added the Italian Gilley (ET phone home girl) It was doubly funny. I guess all I can say is “uh huh” and “sorry”
I love the Gilly character! I’m even planning on being that character for Halloween! Everyone needs to have a more open mind to weird comedy because that’s exactly what that is! I love it.
I caught Gilly for the first time a few weeks ago. The show with Drew Barrymore, double Gilly.
I thought it was hysterical!It’s the teacher: Giilleeee??? I too, came online to find more Gilly skits and was surprised to find this “unfunny” site.
Go Gilly!!!!!
Reply to eburke.
I think I know where you’re coming from. The original snl characters and skits are so different from what they are today. I do believe it has to do with age. It is for me. I’m just older than the humor. I think it’s always been for the younger generation. Did your parents get it back in the day? Mine surely did not. Gilly’s one of the few funny skits I’ve seen in years.
I love Gilly. She is the Bad Seed crossed with Annie! Humor is subjective, and I know that some people here hate this character. But for me, I totally “get” Gilly; I feel like she was pulled right from my own childhood psyche. The sketches are nice because they allow Liam, Sam, and the teacher to get most of the laughs – everyone’s not just acting as the straight man. But yes, I have to agree with the posts here that Kristen Wiig is getting way too much airtime.
Gilly isn’t meant to have that dry humor that no one can relate to because they didn’t grow up in the thirteenth century. Gilly is meant to have the stupid humor that people enjoy nowadays. Oh, and the repetition is what makes it funny…
Wiig and Samburg are my favorite actors on the show, mostly for the fact that they have retarded skits like this one. How can you like Samburg’s ‘I’m on a Boat,’ which is equally if not more repetitive than ‘Gilly’?
“I’m on a Boat” is a one-off while Gilly keeps coming back for more and more and more and more and more. And it gets worse every time.
Kristen Wiig is simply hilarious as Gilly. Some of you critics need to lighten up a bit. Kick back, prop your tootsies up on the old coffee table (or milk crate), and down a cold frosty one. Then maybe you’ll get it!
But they use the phrase “I’m on a Boat” like 400 times…. if thats not repetition i dont know what the hell is
I love Gilly! I laugh so hard at the stuff she pulls. The teacher is the only annoying part of the skit. I taunt my dog- I’ll look at him , and say – “Gilly” – like the teacher does- he hates it! I want to do Kristen Wiig while she’s in character as Gilly!
I can agree that the sketch is repetitive, and i could see how some people may not like it, but someone near the top said that they didn’t like Gilly AND they they thought that Seinfeld was annoying! Anyone who thinks Seinfeld is annoying needs to get their head X-ray’d. What do you think is funny? Cat videos on youtube? Charlie Chaplin? That guy getting run over by a tank in red China? I’m sure you can identify with that last one… Comrade.
If you seriously don’t like this skit AND you dislike Seinfeld, you have no sense of humor. Just saying…
ok well we would love to tell you are oppion but it will not load the video!!!
If you don’t like the skit, then don’t watch it….simple as that.
Thats funny cause I was just thinking Wiig’s characters are the ONLY saving grace for SNL now. The whole show for the last two years has been quite painful to watch now. Stretched out skteches, horrible actors, bad writing, etc.
p.s. Andy Sanberg shouldnt even be ALLOWED his digital shorts. Dude is NOT funny, he just has a fro.
I agree with BRIAN on oct 13th post. SNL is DONE.
People have been saying “SNL” is done since 1979. It’s not. It might not be as funny as it used to be, but it’s a cyclical thing.
Okay i do agree with those who say that SNL has gotten a lot worse lately. I remember a couple years ago when i first started watching Snl it was a lot funnier than it is now. However I do love all te characters that Kristen Wiig plays especially the “sorry woman”
The Gilly skits (and indeed, pretty much all the characters that Wiig does) are appealing to those lowbrow people who find catch-phrases funny. These are the people who kept MAD TV going for so long, since all it was was a series of characters delivering their catch-phrase… And with people like this, it doesn’t matter how many times the phrase is spoken, it’s ALWAYS funny.
They repeat the line to each other like it’s a joke (despite the fact that it has no build-up or punch-line). They wait on the edge of their seat for the character to deliver “the line” because that’s the whole point, and the fact that they find it funny is downright inexplicable.
These are the same people who enjoyed the rapid-fire pop culture references in “Meet The Spartans”, again, despite the fact that simply placing something recognizable on screen without an actual punchline or build-up or anything else to support the “gag” is simply not funny.
I think it’s one of two things:
1. These people confuse “surprising” or “unexpected” with “humorous”. While sometimes “unexpected” can be funny, these people are wired to react to ALL unexpected things as if they’re funny. That’s why they laugh at farts, and thought it was hilarious when they put a Britney Spears character in “Meet the Spartans”. They find catch-phrases funny because they were initially a surprise (”Oh, did you hear what she said?!?!”) and they somehow HANG ON to that feeling ever time the catch phrase is uttered.
2. It’s purely a Pavlovian response. They are conditioned to laugh at catch-phrases, fart noises, or pop culture references because they hear the audience laughing, and then every time the same stimulus is presented to them, they react as conditioned, much like Pavlov’s dog would drool when he heard a bell. The catch-phrase, fart noise, or pop culture reference is the Pavlovian “bell” to these people, and the “drool” is laughter (though I’d wager a lot of them DO drool.)
How about Kenan Thompson using the same stereotypical African American voice for EVERY character he portrays EVERY time he is on screen, regardless of WHO he is playing. SAME voice for EVERY character. It is not just his normal voice either. You can tell he is trying to be funny by talking like that. It may work for some characters he plays, but gets annoying when he does it for ALL of them. At least Kristen is diffent when she performs, however good or lame her character may be, she has talent.
I LOVE Gilly. And having Drew Barrymore as Gilly the foreign exchange student from Italy was one of my all time favorite SNL skits period. “Put down that wine! It’s not lunch yet!” LOL
I love Gilly, and Kristen Wigg. I think this character along with her others are hilarious. I think she is the strongest and funniest woman to ever grace the SNL cast.
Seriously? Kristen wigg is one of my new hero’s. Nothing can make me laugh like she can. And Gilly, that is seriously some funny crap. I love her, and i want her to stay on forrrever.
Gilly is hysterical!
I just left a comment on the Medsker article — and then I found this piece. In fact, the comment I left over there remarked specifically on the “Gilly” character: I’d be happy to see it tossed into the ashcan of comedy.
I know “to each his own” and everybody’s taste is different — but I’m shocked that people are defending this really, really bad, really, really unfunny recurring character.
I gotta tell you I don’t think it is funny at all…especially given today’s situation with violence in schools. OK, so let’s bomb a classroom and shoot a teacher. Funny.
Gilly is the Best SNL character of all times!! I TiVo all of the SNLs so I can watch Wigg do her thang. I thought I was going to die from laughing so hard from the science fair skit. I thought I might have possibly needed to change my shorts! Seriously, jk. I should write fir SNL too. Nah, they’re much funnier than I’ll ever be… Poot!
Yeah, big cartoon bombs with a fireman bill rip off are too insensitive…
Two words:
Gilly SUCKS
There’s plenty of room for real comedy on SNL. I have to give credit to the actors for trying hard with weak material, although there’s not much to laugh at lately. It seems like the only thing people find funny is putting some celebrity in a silly skit. The skits themselves aren’t funny, it’s more of a reaction of “Oh, look how funny (celeb) is “. I can’t wait for a solid, cohesive cast and talented writers.
It’s unbelievable how awful SNL has become. Lorne and the writers are to blame, of course. If characters and skits like Gilly were on in the first year of SNL, it would have also been the last.
Look, I know it bad guys. It’s gotten real bad in fact. Gilly is terrible, I admit. We are desperate. If you know anyone remotely funny please have them apply for an interview. We’ll take anything at this point, apparently.
To all of you chiming in to say how funny you think the Gilly sketches are: to you, they probably are funny. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t poorly written, middling comedy. From what I saw, the Gilly sketches are not clever, they go on too long and they rely too much on one actor mugging for the camera.
Think about this: if you saw one of these sketches performed exactly the same way by some random high school kids, would you really love it? That’s one of the things that SNL has made me think about in recent years. Quite often, many of the sketches would just be embarrassing if they were seen anywhere but on TV, performed by people you recognize.
I don’t know, in my opinion the character is much more creative than anything I’ve seen on SNL for a while. She has so many characters because she seems to be one of the few creative people on the show. To me, the skit seems like an old school SNL skit. Back in the day they would have recurring characters like “depth perception guy”, which was the same joke over and over, but still funny. I’m not saying I think it’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen, but at least kristen’s making an effort to try out new things and be creative. Can’t say that about anyone else from that show these days.
I have a lot of respect for kristen, it’s pretty obvious producers on the show realize she’s the best they got right now. Also, I wonder if the name “Gilly” is a tribute to Gilda Radner, can’t hate on that.
SNL’s annoying unfunny material made me wonder if comedy writers just get burned out and lose all sense of what’s funny. Perhaps if I were in their shoes, it would happen to me.
But then, Kristin Wiig debuted her “Name-Dropping Plant” on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and I understood that she really has a retarded sense of humor that would fit right in on MADtv.
Wiig’s “Name-Dropping Plant” also confirms ZeroCorpse’s comment above about rapid-fire pop culture references without a set-up or punchline.
Maybe SNL figured out it was unfunny for 15 years while MadTV got all the laughs. Current cast is the best since the original. Sure the Sandler era reads like a dream team, but no troupe has done so little with so much. Wiig and Hader are as good as it gets.
If you find comedy isn’t funny right away, or isn’t funny upon scrutiny, maybe you should check your own funny bone.
Creative, maybe, but she could take a dump on stage, which would also be creatively trying out a new thing, and it couldn’t be any worse.
Of course it’s all my fault, my own funny bone says that just about all of her characters are unfunny and annoying, and I switch to another channel in hopes of finding a Billy Mays or ShamWow Vince commercial instead.
Maybe I should be DVRing SNL so I can find the news plus one or two skits that might be funny.
I can’t stand the skit..& the fact that she shoots people with a gun while in school is unsettling to say the least. How is that funny after all of the tragedies that have taken place at schools in the last decade. We shouldn’t be joking about guns in school. What’s next – joking about planes flying into buildings?
Let me pitch this to you: We open the scene with a semi-retarded girl holding a bomb, or shooting her teacher, or stabbing a classmate…the we rinse and repeat six or eight times…How can this not rule?
I just watched the Very Gilly Christmas show on DVR. There were only a couple of skits that made me laugh. I didn’t find the Gilly skits funny.
I really want to continue watching SNL and enjoy the funny parts; but Gilly is just downright annoying. It is not funny at all and makes me want to stop watching SNL altogether. Please discontinue it!!!
I agree; Gilly is not funny at all. Please stop wasting precious time that could be dedicated to “What’s Up WIth That!” lol…Not THAT’S funny!
Come on, let’s be fair, it’s the WRITING that sucks. This turd made it through a whole week of cuts; imagine how bad the sketches were that they didn’t use.
Honestly, I’m pretty sure that all of last week’s episode was recurring stuff, and none of it was funny. Write some good new sketches!!!
Yeah, I agree that SNL lost it’s humor and it’s not funny anymore. I liked the humor that poked fun at George W. Bush, as a kid I liked “The Blues Brothers 2000″. Man, John Belusi rocked. He did a great job with humor……SNL needs fresh, new comedians that are funny like he was. Bring back the old-school humor! Ditch the characters like Gilly, who don’t say much and aren’t really that humorous. Stephen Colbert is sometimes humorous, and John Stewart is cool. Oh yeah, a hint to SNL: Real talent, please!
I believe Wiig is funny, and yes she is talented. Although she has repeating characters such as Gilly and Penelope, they are humorous. I suppose it’s an opinion, but she’s very talented. She’s one of my favorites on the current SNL cast. I see her going far in the future. She’s hysterical. She’s got my full support on anything she chooses to do.
I ♥ to hate GILLY !!!
which is why I love watching the skit.
the annie like irritating charcater the face is what makes it funny.
to be honest it’s the best what SNL brought for years now I would stop watch it if it wasnt for the guests.
sense of comedy has shifted recently anyway IF PEOPLE LIKE YOU THINK ”THE OFFICE” is funny.
Gilly would be something difficult for stiff people to enjoy!
I LOVEEE GILLLLYY!
I love Gilly, but you have to understand that different people have different taste and not everybody has to agree with one another. I for one do not agree with this article at all and I’m sure there are many others who would agree too. People are just too hard to please these days, everything has to be clever or fantastic to be funny. I don’t think so, many things that are simple can be funny, and Kristin Wig can do both simple funny and clever funny.
The Gilly sketches are a waste of time and talent. We DVR the shows, but skip through a lot of skits for a variety of reasons: boring, crude, unfunny.
Gilly is just not very funny.
I personally find this hiarious… I love Zac Efron in the second skit and LOVE the first one even more… On the other hand I have always loved SNL so I might be biased.
Gilly cracks me up.
Ottawa John
What is it with people always finding the worst people funny,(Fred…and well, every actor on SNL that isn’t Andy Samberg.) Not counting like one or two time guests. Samberg’s skits are frickin’ hillarious, cannot say that for most of the rest of it.
Gllly is hilarious because she’s so stripped down as a character. A funny face, a wig and as few words as possible. Wiig is the lily tomlin of our times. I adore her and long may she bring us these strange, unique and indeed controversial characters. I say controversial because she’s created such a stir here and has people talking about comedy (beyond this space) in a way i have not seen for years. I have a bias for funny girls, though, so admit that for me this discussion is about taste. Gllly rocks!
The Gilly sketch is both funny and Genious. The entire thing is a social metaphor. The teacher represents the governement, which is only the preverication of authority. The first kid is the “middle class” which tries to play by the rules but continuously gets the short end of the stick. Kenan’s character represents the ethnic classes which are asked to function normally yet undercut by the authority, i.e. the crazy horse breaking both of his arms. Then there is Gilly representing the upperclass always breaking the rules, getting a slap on the wrist and smiling, but never altering the bad behavior. If you are annoyed by this skit it is because of the subconscious manifestations of these characters. GREAT SKIT and WIIG is a comic genious!!!
I think most of SNL’s skits are stupid and “not” funny. I rarely watch the show. My husband and I happened upon the Gilly “classroom skit one night and we laughed and laughed. I watched the next week hoping to see another skit and wasn’t disappointed with “science fare”. Again we laughed! I started recording the show weekly in hopes we’d see more Gilly. I haven’t seen any since? My opinion is WIIG is one of the funniest and talented cast members. Bring back the old SNL skits…those were funny!
I love it, I actually call my children like the teacher, and they jump up and laugh and say sorry! It is so much fun! Keep her on, and bring more Gilly, I am so glad they are posting the clips online, I loved re watching them!
since when does ‘having a heart’ have anything to do with jduging humor?! are you people out of your fucking minds?!
this is the stupidest fucking thing i have ever seen! i’m beyond confused as to how this madTV-esque piece of shit character has infected snl & it’s fans. WIIG DOES NOTHING but make a stupid face & say 3 words!! they’re not funny words and it’s not a funny face!
wiig’s characters are forced & not. funny. at. all. i really don’t know how she gets these things past micheals, or why she’s allowed to continue to do nothing but say the same 3 word punchlines & make the same unfunny faces.
don’t even get me started on the target lady!! how the hell is that funny, what the fuck is going on?!
I absolutly love gilly. And all of kirsen wiig sketches. Especiall y the girl who can not keep a secret. one of her talents is that she can talk so fast without taking breaths.you try to say all that in 30 seconds without breathing.
Awful, just awful.
Someone above mentioned that Wiig plays mildly retarded characters. It’s true. That’s her shtick, mocking people who can’t stand up for themselves. It’s really worse than being merely unfunny. She really ought to be ashamed of herself.
You think this was a poor attempt to mirror mary katherine gallagher in some way.? Wiig needs something a little more “intelligent” to utilize her as a funny cast member and not a tool. Kenan Thompson is the real relief in that skit.