'That was hell': Comedian Shane Gillis blasts Peoria after frigid visit

Despite weather that kept some ticketholders at home, stand-up comic Shane Gillis showed up for both sold-out shows on Jan. 12 at the Peoria Civic Center. The visit left him cold.

On a follow-up podcast released this week, he said, "I was in Peoria, Illinois, new No. 1 on the power rankings of (expletive) town in the entire country. Peoria, Illinois was ... that was hell, dude."

Gillis said because of the weather, he had to arrive a day early and had "nothing to do," adding, "just me and the bums were the only ones outside walking around. ... Minus 4 in Peoria sucks."

The Pennsylvania-born Gillis is co-host, along with fellow stand-up Matt McCusker, of "Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast." Gillis was announced as a cast member of "Saturday Night Live" in 2019 but removed from the show days later after podcast clips emerged in which he made jokes that included ethnic slurs, according to the New York Times.

While Gillis made it to the Civic Center, others did not. Several posts went up on Facebook offering tickets for sale. Over 2 inches of snow fell that Friday, adding to some 8 inches already on the ground.

After his shows, Gillis and his entourage walked around to Jim's Steak House, where he kept up a local tradition of visiting celebrities dining at the restaurant. There, the comic was apparently in a better mood.

"Jim's had the pleasure of hosting the comedian ...," read a post on Jim's Facebook page.

Restaurant manager Kristin Comfort said Gillis and his party arrived after the second show and enjoyed a leisurely meal, taking time to have photos taken with staff members. She said the comedian was "very kind, very polite. We enjoyed having him."

Gillis was "pleased that Peoria had a restaurant like Jim's," she said of the downtown fine-dining establishment.

Comfort listed several other comedians who have dined at Jim's after performing in Peoria, including Jay Leno, Gabriel Iglesias — "a regular" — and Jo Koy. Last year, the shirtless comedian Bert Kreischer paid the restaurant a visit.

Comfort said, "I think a lot of celebs choose us because we're well known in the community." She cited the restaurant's reputation and proximity to the Civic Center and downtown hotels.

Related: 'He was a great guy': Downtown Peoria fine-dining restaurant welcomes shirtless comedian

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Comedian Shane Gillis blasts Peoria after sold-out shows