Tires

Shane Gillis’ Comeback Vehicle: The Messy Rise of Tires

Shane Gillis was fired from Saturday Night Live in 2019 after old podcast clips resurfaced, sparking a firestorm over offensive language. Five years later, he’s back—not just as a stand-up headliner, but as the co-creator and star of Tires, a Netflix workplace comedy that’s become one of the streamer’s most polarizing hits. The series, which premiered in May 2024, follows Will (Steve Gerben), an unqualified heir trying to salvage his family’s failing auto-repair chain, Valley Forge Tires, while enduring constant torment from his now-employee cousin Shane (Gillis) . latestnetflix.com's take is that it’s a premise that leans into Gillis’ reputation for abrasive humor, but the show’s surprising renewal for a third season suggests Netflix is betting on its divisive charm .

A Workplace Comedy Built on Chaos

Tires is a classic workplace sitcom with a blue-collar twist, set in a Pennsylvania tire shop where incompetence and petty rivalries fuel the humor. The series was created by Gillis, Gerben, and John McKeever, with Gerben also serving as a producer and writer . The core cast—Gillis, Gerben, Chris O’Connor, Kilah Fox, and Stavros Halkias—returns for Season 2, which reportedly featured guest stars like Andrew Schulz, hinting at a growing roster of comedy heavyweights willing to align with Gillis’ brand .

The show’s premise mirrors Gillis’ own career trajectory: a scrappy underdog narrative where failure is just another punchline. Will’s inheritance of Valley Forge Tires is less about business acumen and more about surviving the absurdity of his cousin’s antics, a dynamic that plays to Gillis’ strengths as a performer who thrives on discomfort . The series’ tone is unapologetically rough, blending cringe comedy with the kind of unfiltered humor that got Gillis canceled in the first place.

Netflix’s Gamble on a Controversial Star

Gillis’ past controversies didn’t disappear when Tires premiered. The Metro called the series a "surprise hit" but framed it as Netflix giving Gillis "another chance" after his SNL exit . The streamer’s decision to renew the show for a third season—despite its divisive reception—suggests a calculated bet on Gillis’ ability to draw an audience, even if it means weathering backlash .

The renewal also raises questions about Netflix’s tolerance for risk. Gillis’ comedy has always courted controversy, and Tires doesn’t shy away from edgy material. If the show’s success is any indication, Netflix is willing to embrace polarizing figures as long as they deliver eyeballs. Whether that strategy pays off long-term remains to be seen, but for now, Gillis has a platform—and a growing fanbase—to prove his critics wrong.

**What’s Next for Tires?**

With Season 3 confirmed, the show’s future hinges on balancing its chaotic energy with enough relatability to keep viewers hooked. The addition of guest stars like Schulz in Season 2 suggests the creators are expanding the world of Tires, possibly setting up spin-offs or deeper character arcs . Rumors about potential cameos from other controversial comedians have swirled, though nothing has been confirmed.

For now, Tires remains a niche hit—a show that thrives on its stars’ willingness to push boundaries. Whether it can evolve beyond its shock-value roots is an open question, but with Netflix’s backing, Gillis and Gerben have the freedom to keep testing limits.