Shane Gillis bolsters his portfolio – without altering his comedy style – on Netflix through the tired show "Tires"
Gillis' new show, "Tires", takes a similar approach as rising comics transitioning to TV shows based on their personalities. However, the tired atmosphere of this Netflix series, which Gillis co-created, reflects how much the comedy world has evolved since the 1980s and '90s when comedians like Bill Cosby, Roseanne Barr, Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Brett Butler, and Ray Romano made the move to TV and expanded their audiences with popular shows that attracted massive viewers.
"Tires" displays the limited characteristics of the streaming era, starring Gillis in a self-produced series unlikely to gain many new fans but rather catering to those already supportive. With six sitcom-length episodes (the shortest running just 18 minutes), the show has a meager feel even before taking into account its lacklustre humour. Netflix bought the series along with a second Gillis stand-up special for their streaming platform, likely seeing the stand-up special as a higher priority after his first "Beautiful Dogs" debuted last year.
In the series, Gillis portrays a goofy cousin of Will (Steven Gerben), who's managing a failing auto repair shop belonging to his father. "Tires" mirrors the immature tone of Gillis' act, be it drinking beer on the job or ogling women during a promotional bikini car wash. It's naughty, yet not very fresh.
Much like many stand-ups, Gillis feels comfortable in his element by playing a version of himself. He's carved out a niche that could have broader appeal. However, compared to how comedy used to work where comedians aimed to expand their reach by creating shows like "Home Improvement" or "Everybody Loves Raymond", Gillis exhibits less urgency in this direction, instead targeting a niche group of Netflix viewers.
Netflix has positioned itself as a platform for various forms of comedy, including controversial material, with specials from Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais drawing significant backlash. The service responded by expressing support for artistic expression, acknowledging in their statement of culture, "Not everyone will like - or agree with - everything on our service. ... We program for a diverse range of audiences and tastes; and we allow viewers to decide what's appropriate for them."
For Gillis, the past few months have felt validating and affirming, with "SNL" - and the platform's continued relevance - as the cherry on top. During his monologue in February, he made a brief joke about his hiring and firing, telling unfamiliar audiences, "Please don't Google that."
However, watching "Tires", someone with only a casual knowledge of Gillis might be intrigued to do just that. Since this worn-out vehicle doesn't exactly shout about his talent, a casual viewer might reasonably ask themselves why he earned all the attention in the first place.
"Tires" premieres May 23 on Netflix.
Ref: https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/michael-gillis-tires-netflix-1235345917/
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The success of "Tires" may cater mainly to existing fans of Shane Gillis, as the show's limited appeal and meager episode count reflect the characteristics of the current streaming era. Despite the tiresome atmosphere, Netflix still saw value in acquiring the series and a second stand-up special from Gillis, highlighting the platform's support for diverse comedy content and artistic expression.
Source: edition.cnn.com
