SNL101

We discuss Nikki Glaser’s first time hosting on November 8, 2025. bringing her bold, boundary-pushing comedy to network broadcast television. Glaser’s Stand-Up Monologue —filled with taboo humor about rape, trafficking, and pedophilia—was a masterclass in “gross-out” comedy where Glaser targets herself rather than others. Charisse compares Glaser to John Waters, Luvell connects the episode to philosophical debates about ethical taboos in humor, and Chuck situates it in a tradition of transgressive film comedies like Scary Movie, Road Trip, and Serial Mom. Readings include Film Comedy by Geoff King and the Politico article, “‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat.”

Listen on Libsyn: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/38992355

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-47-nikki-glaser-s51e05/id1712886779

Readings

Banks, T. L. (2009). Troubled Waters: Mid-Twentieth Century American Society on Trial in the Films of John Waters. Stetson L. Rev., 39, 153. https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/stet39&i=157

Beeferman, J. & Ngo, E. (2025 Oct 14). ‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/private-chat-among-young-gop-club-members-00592146

King, G. (2002). Film comedy. Wallflower Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=nUqCYbHIhCgC
Myers, L. (2025). Ethical Taboo in Humorous Play. The Journal of Value Inquiry, 1-24. https://philpapers.org/archive/MYEETI.pdf

Resources

Phillips, T. (Director). (2000). Road Trip [Film]. The Montecito Picture Company; DreamWorks Pictures. https://youtu.be/d5Dze0zYVgY

Waters, J. (Director). (1994). Serial Mom [Film]. Polar Entertainment Corporation; Savoy Pictures. https://youtu.be/Ut9GvlhB9f4

Waters, J. (Director). (1972). Pink Flamingos [Film]. Dreamland Productions; New Line Cinema. https://youtu.be/z1DU0Vs2pq0

Wayans, K. I. (Director). (2000). Scary movie [Film]. Dimension Films; Miramax Films. https://youtu.be/HTLPULt0eJ4