Emily Jashinsky examines Michael Che's cue-card explanation

Dave Smith brings a friend's perspective to Che's reluctance to dissect Shane Gillis's SNL monologue on Today.

Channel:

After Party with Emily Jashinsky Story of October 20, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The video opened at a pace of 36,139 views a day, 14 times a normal first day on this channel (2,532).

Michael Che REFUSES to Take the Bait on Shane Gillis, with Dave Smith

Michael Che has a practical explanation for missing Shane Gillis's monologue live: he was preparing cue cards for his own segment. That answer, and the questions that keep coming afterward, are the focus of a fast-starting clip from After Party with Emily Jashinsky.

The Short drew roughly 14,000 views in six hours, already well beyond the channel's usual full-day audience for that format. It moves the conversation on from Jashinsky's earlier defense of Gillis's gym joke to a different question: how much should one comedian have to explain another comedian's material?

In the archived Today interview, Che keeps his response broad. "That's comedy. It's like, um, you think it's funny and then, and then some people don't," he says, before explaining why he hadn't watched the monologue live.

Jashinsky then turns to comedian and Part of the Problem host Dave Smith, who says he is friends with both men. Smith recognizes the awkwardness of being pressed about something a friend has done, rather than the work he is there to discuss.

His defense of Gillis goes beyond the disputed monologue: Smith calls him "a generational talent," pointing to his work across stand-up, sketches and podcasting.

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What viewers say

Love that Che let the uncomfortable silence hang 😂
@shell192See it on YouTube
Is Dave Smith on Afterparty?
@marcsmith-wl9pwSee it on YouTube
Emily really does seem like one of the sweetest human beings ever. Great at her job, too! Smith is a legend. Good stuff!
@aaronscheibe9597See it on YouTube

Public comments from the video's page on YouTube