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Tag: Comedians

  • The DNC Brings Wiener-Obsessed Politicians, Journalists, and Comedians to Chicago

    The DNC Brings Wiener-Obsessed Politicians, Journalists, and Comedians to Chicago

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    While the Democratic National Convention may not be a boon for Chicago’s restaurant industry, local politicians, journalists, and comedians are still planning on sampling the city’s culinary delights this week. Some point to a lack of variety in those diets (we have some suggestions for that); there’s certainly a tendency to stay close to downtown and visit the same North Side neighborhoods. Still, there’s some fun to be had, even if these visitors have limited taste buds and stick with pizza and hot dogs. Eater scoured the convention floor and asked politicians what they put on their hot dogs.

    Lori Lightfoot

    Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
    Scott Olson/Getty Images

    After taking a nearly year-long hiatus, Lightfoot returned to the media circuit this week with DNC analysis on CBS Chicago. The former mayor, who chose an unorthodox smorgasbord for her Super Bowl spread in 2019, prefers a “modified Chicago-style” dog.

    “Brown mustard, dill pickle slices, tomatoes, sport peppers, and celery salt,” Lightfoot says, “Sometimes also giardiniera instead of the sport peppers. But sometimes if the hot dog is really good and grilled right, just a dog in a bun.”

    Jaime Harrison

    Jaime R. Harrison, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, speaks onstage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 19, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Delegates, politicians, and Democratic party supporters are in Chicago for the convention, concluding with current Vice President Kamala Harris accepting her party’s presidential nomination. The DNC takes place from August 19-22.

    DNC chair Jamie Harrison.
    Alex Wong/Getty Images

    The DNC chair kept his restaurant plans under wraps but his spokespeople tell us he’s a slaw dog fan. Harrison tops his dog off with chili, coleslaw, relish, ketchup, mustard, and onions.

    Grace Kuhlenschmidt attends the “Boys Go To Jupiter” premiere during the 2024 Tribeca Festival at Village East Cinema on June 07, 2024 in New York City.

    The Daily Show correspondent Grace Kuhlenschmidt.
    Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival

    The 28-year-old self-described “straight lesbian comedian” and Daily Show correspondent has a soft spot for Roost Chicken & Biscuits with locations in River West and Wrigleyville.

    “I was living in Chicago when the pandemic hit and on the news they started talking about how we were going to go into lockdown,” she says. “My roommate Andrew and I turned to each other like ‘We need to order The Roost NOW.’ So we did and that was the last thing I ate before I started wiping down my groceries.”

    During the DNC, Kuhlenschmidt will return to her old favorite and order the House-Style fried chicken sandwich with cheese on a biscuit, plus the chocolate chip bread pudding. When it comes to hot dogs, Kuhlenschmidt took a swipe at Chicago tradition: “When it comes to hot dogs, I need ketchup,” she says. “I really don’t care what Chicago or the National Hot Dog Association say. Ketchup is a divine condiment.”

    DNC senior advisor Keiana Barrett (the chief diversity & engagement officer for developer Sterling Bay) plans on sticking close to McCormick Place and patronizing Williams Inn, the pizzeria and sports bar in the South Loop, owned by the same Black family as Jeffery Pub, one of the oldest queer bars in the country. She’ll start with the hot wings, “fried hard” with ranch dressing, and deep-dish pizza with mushrooms. Barrett only eats turkey hot dogs and prefers them grilled with mustard, barbecue sauce, relish, pickle, and a dash of seasoned salt.

    Christy George

    Christy George, executive director of the host committee, speaks while the Democratic National Convention holds a media walkthrough on Jan. 18, 2024, at the United Center.

    DNC executive director Christy George.
    Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

    Winner of the 2022 Banchet Award for Best Alternative Dining, Sinhá should expect a visit from the DNC’s executive director Christy George (Gov. Pritzker’s first assistant deputy governor for budget and economy). Among her top picks at the Brazilian restaurant: mango salsa, plantains, chicken curry, and steak.

    “Best Brazilian food in the city recently had it and can’t wait to go back,” George tells Eater — not that there are a ton of Brazilian options in Chicago. “Their patio is intimate and beautiful, it’s a local woman-owned restaurant, and the food is killer.”

    When it comes to hot dogs, George ignores Chicago-style rules.

    “Ketchup and mustard, unapologetically,” she says.

    Don Harmon

    Senate President Don Harmon arrives before Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivered his State of the State and budget address at the Illinois State Capitol on Feb. 21, 2024, in Springfield, Illinois.

    Illinois Senate President Don Harmon.
    Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

    The Illinois state senate president hasn’t had much time to sit down and dine during the DNC.

    “I wish I had been eating anywhere but off the fat of the land, wherever food is put in front of me from reception to reception,” Harmon says on the convention floor on Tuesday before the delegates cast their vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.

    “Hot dogs you’ve only got three choices: you can eat it Chicago-style, you can eat it with mustard and onions, or you can eat it plain,” Harmon says, adding that he’ll eat any of those three options depending on the circumstance.

    “If I can’t spill I’m not above a plain hot dog, mustard, and onions when I’m low-key and Chicago style if someone else is fixing it,” he says.

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    Leigh Giangreco

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  • Shane Gillis acknowledges being fired from ‘Saturday Night Live’ while hosting latest episode

    Shane Gillis acknowledges being fired from ‘Saturday Night Live’ while hosting latest episode

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    Mechanicsburg-native comedian Shane Gillis hosted the latest episode of “Saturday Night Live,” five years after he was hired and then abruptly fired for having made racist jokes in his stand-up acts. 

    During the Feb. 24 episode, which featured musical guest 21 Savage, Gillis briefly referred to his complicated history with the comedy show in his monologue.

    MORE: Philly’s Sapphira Cristal debuts a James Brown impression on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’

    “I’m here,” Gillis said during his monologue. “Most of you probably have no idea who I am. I was actually, I was fired from this show a while ago. But, you know, don’t look that up, please. If you don’t know who I am, please don’t Google that. It’s fine, don’t even worry about it. … I probably shouldn’t be up here, honestly.”

    Gillis was hired as a full-time cast member in 2019, but was fired within days after clips surfaced of him using a slur referring to Chinese people, mimicking Chinese accents and making other offensive comments. Additional clips also showed Gillis making homophobic, Islamophobic and sexist remarks. Since his firing, Gillis has co-hosted the podcast “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast” and starred in the 2023 Netflix comedy special “Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs.”

    In his monologue, Gillis went on to joke that his calling lies not in comedy, but elsewhere.

    “Like, God molded me perfectly to be a high school football coach/ninth grade sex education teacher,” Gillis said.

    Most of Gillis’ monologue consisted of jokes about his family. He poked fun at his father, who was in the audience, who works as a “volunteer assistant girls high school basketball coach.”

    “I thought it was funny.” Gillis said, after the audience’s lukewarm response to his joke about his dad. “I thought it was great; never mind. I thought that was going to be a big hit here.”

    He also reminisced on how he and his mother used to be super close when he was a young kid.

    “Every little boy is just their mom’s gay best friend,” he said.

    He then spoke about having relatives with Down syndrome, who he says are “the only ones having a good time pretty consistently.”

    “I don’t know if you can tell by looking at me, but I do have family members with Down syndrome. It almost got me,” he said. “I dodged it, but it nicked me.”

    Gillis grew uneasy after the crowd’s response.

    “Look, I don’t have any material that can be on TV, all right? I’m trying my best. Also, this place is extremely well-lit. I can see everyone not enjoying it. This is the most nervous I’ve ever been.”

    He also spoke about how his sister, who has a daughter with Down syndrome, is married to an Egyptian man and adopted three Black children. He compared visiting their house to “getting in the craziest Uber pool you’ve ever been in.” He also imagined a day in the future when “some white kid” at recess makes fun of his niece and “three Black kids come flying out of nowhere” and start “whaling” on the bully.

    While viewers watching the broadcast could hear laughter and applause throughout much of the monologue, it was clear that Gillis felt uncomfortable with how his set was going based on his continuous remarks to that effect. At one point, he exclaimed, “I thought we were allowed to have fun here.”

    Gillis’ monologue was met with mixed reactions online. On an Instagram post about the monologue, comments range from “First time I’ve laughed during SNL in about 5 years!” to “Is funny in the room with us?”

    Early reviews of his hosting gig in the media are also mixed. NPR writer Eric Deggans described Gillis’ “uneasy opening monologue” but also called it an “ingenious response” to backlash that SNL received for bringing him on as host.

    “Much of it felt like Gillis’ attempt to insulate himself from criticism and avoid any jokes that could revive the backlash,” Deggans wrote. “But since he also didn’t really explain or explore the controversy swirling around his appearance, it all took on the feel of an opportunity missed. Or a subject ducked.”

    On Saturday’s episode, Gillis starred in sketches about Forrest Gump’s high school bully, an HR meeting gone awry, a family attending church on vacation, a unique betting app and a game show contestant who isn’t very knowledgeable on a certain topic. Gillis also showed off his Donald Trump impersonation during a sketch about the new branded sneakers that the former president announced during Sneaker Con in Philadelphia.

    The comedian paid homage to his Pennsylvania roots by posing in SNL promotional photos wearing an Eagles hoodie and what appears to be a Ben Franklin costume.

    The latest episode of SNL can be streamed now on Peacock. Next Saturday, actress Sydney Sweeney will host SNL alongside musical guest Kacey Musgraves.

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    Franki Rudnesky

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  • Ricky Gervais suggests controversial collaboration with Dave Chappelle

    Ricky Gervais suggests controversial collaboration with Dave Chappelle

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    Ricky Gervais has suggested a collaboration with fellow comedian Dave Chappelle at one of the entertainment world’s biggest nights, as both ride high with their controversial new Netflix specials.

    Christmas Day saw the release of Gervais’ Netflix comedy special, Armageddon, which stirred up controversy before its debut over jokes the former Golden Globe Awards host had made about terminally ill children.

    During an appearance on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Headliners podcast last month, Gervais addressed the backlash, seemingly blaming the reaction on the forum.

    “I can play to a million people, I won’t get a complaint,” he said. “As soon as it goes on Netflix or as soon as someone writes up a joke that says this is offensive, people go, ‘Oh, that’s offensive.’ They haven’t even heard the joke. They weren’t there. Ignore them. They don’t count. They have no effect on me. They don’t count. They’re hecklers.”

    Ricky Gervais is pictured left on March 1, 2020 in London, England. Dave Chapelle is pictured right on October 17, 2021 in London, England. Gervais has suggested that he and Chappelle host the Academy Awards after both comedians released controversial standup specials on Netflix days apart.
    Vera Anderson/WireImage;/Samir Hussein/WireImage

    Days after Gervais’ Armageddon release, Chappelle returned to Netflix on December 31 with a new special called The Dreamer, in which he spent much of his comedy set talking about his aspirations when first starting out in the industry and how he learned how to become successful.

    However, the comic sparked a public outcry when he dedicated the first portion of the special to transgender people after facing ongoing criticism for previous jokes he made about them in his other Netflix shows.

    Both Chappelle and Gervais’ Netflix specials have debuted high on the streaming giant’s charts—which recently prompted Gervais to share a suggestion.

    Posting a screenshot showing his and Chappelle’s high positions, Gervais wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “We should host The Oscars together,” along with a laughing emoji.

    Like Chappelle, Gervais has faced criticism over his jokes aimed at transgender people. The Office co-creator’s 2022 standup show, titled SuperNature, divided opinion online when it was released on Netflix due to its material.

    Gervais has publicly described himself as “pro-trans” in the past and told The Spectator in 2022 that his target isn’t “trans folk, but trans activist ideology.”

    Meanwhile, Chappelle’s 2021 Netflix special, The Closer, faced similar controversy on its release. The special sparked Netflix staff walkouts, with employees charging that the show contained material widely branded “transphobic.”

    Chappelle addressed those comments during another Netflix special What’s in a Name?—in which he called students who criticized him “instruments of oppression.”

    Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos initially defended Chappelle, saying: “We have a strong belief that content on screen doesn’t directly translate to real-world harm.”

    But he later told The Hollywood Reporter that he “screwed up” in regard to internal communications within the company about the special.

    An estimated 100 Netflix employees organized a walkout in October 2021 and the streaming service’s handling of the situation eventually led to the resignation of Terra Field, a high-level engineer for the company and the founder of its transgender employee research group.

    Before the walkout, Netflix said in a press release: “We value our trans colleagues and allies, and understand the deep hurt that’s been caused. We respect the decision of any employee who chooses to walk out, and recognize we have much more work to do both within Netflix and in our content.”