If you’ve spent any time on TikTok, Instagram Reels, or the deeper corners of Reddit lately, you’ve probably seen someone comment "I’m making them at night" on a video of a sandwich. Or maybe you saw a guy in a Home Depot vest and the top comment was just "Where’d you get that cheese, Danny?"
It sounds like a fever dream. Honestly, if you aren't a fan of stand-up, it’s basically gibberence. But for fans of Shane Gillis, those five words—shane gillis making them at night—represent one of the most wholesome, hilarious, and culturally dominant comedy bits of the last decade.
The Origin Story of Uncle Danny
So, what’s the deal? It all started with Shane Gillis talking about his family. Shane is known for a lot of things—getting fired from SNL, having the most successful podcast on Patreon, and his uncanny Trump impression—but his stories about his Uncle Danny are what really humanized him to a massive audience.
Danny is Shane's uncle who has Down syndrome. In his 2021 YouTube special Live in Austin, Shane dropped a bit that changed the grilled cheese game forever. He describes how Danny has a bit of an obsession with grilled cheese sandwiches. It’s his "safe food."
The crux of the joke is that Danny is a bit of a rebel. Shane tells the story of being out at a nice restaurant with the family, and Danny—who apparently doesn't trust fancy menus—sneaks his own grilled cheese into the building.
"I'm Not Making Them At Night, Dad"
The real comedy gold comes from the dynamic between Danny and his father (Shane’s grandfather). According to the bit, Danny’s dad is constantly suspicious of where the household's bread and cheese are disappearing to.
Shane paints this vivid, ridiculous picture: It’s 3:00 AM. The house is pitch black. Danny is in the kitchen, shirtless, wearing baggy gym shorts, on a "secret mission" to mass-produce sandwiches. We're talking a full-scale operation. 10 grilled cheeses. Just in case.
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When his dad confronts him, Danny denies it with the most unconvincing lie in history: "I'm not making them at night, Dad." Then, the punchline. Danny turns to Shane, gives him a look, and whispers the truth: "I'm making them at night."
Why This Bit Went Nuclear
Comedy is usually about tension and release. Most people feel a little awkward joking about developmental disabilities because they're afraid of being mean. Shane doesn't do that. He treats Danny like a real person—a guy who is funny, stubborn, and a little bit of a hustler.
That’s why it works. It’s not a joke about Down syndrome; it’s a joke about a guy who loves sandwiches so much he operates a midnight black-market kitchen.
It’s also incredibly relatable. Everyone has that one relative who does something weird and specific. For Shane, it just happens to be Uncle Danny and his stockpile of hidden sandwiches in the bedroom closet.
The Cultural Impact
Since the special aired, "making them at night" has become a universal shorthand.
- The Meme: People post videos of themselves cooking late at night with the audio from the bit.
- The Merch: You can literally buy "Where’d you get that cheese, Danny?" t-shirts on Etsy.
- The Community: It’s created a weirdly wholesome bridge between the "edgy" comedy world and people who actually live with or work with individuals who have Down syndrome.
Shane Gillis Making Them At Night: Breaking Down the Magic
The phrase shane gillis making them at night has basically become an SEO powerhouse because it hits three specific notes: nostalgia, absurdity, and authenticity.
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1. The Visuals
Shane is a master of "physical" storytelling even when he's just standing still. When he describes Danny in the kitchen at 3:00 AM, you can see it. You can hear the spatula hitting the pan. You can see the light of the fridge.
2. The Quote-ability
"Where'd you get that cheese, Danny?" is the "Where's the beef?" of the 2020s. It’s short, punchy, and fun to say. It’s the kind of line that makes you feel like you’re part of an inside joke with a million other people.
3. The Heart
At the end of the day, Shane clearly loves his uncle. He talks about how Danny loves John Cena and "rag-dolling" people. It’s comedy built on affection, not punching down. That’s why even as Shane’s career has exploded—hosting SNL, getting a Netflix series (Tires), and selling out arenas—this bit remains his "Free Bird." People want to hear it every time.
Misconceptions and Internet Lore
Because the internet is the internet, things get weird. Some people started wondering if this was a "stereotype" about people with Down syndrome.
The short answer? No. It’s just Danny.
Danny is a specific guy. As some Reddit users pointed out, "safe foods" are a very real thing for people with various neurodivergent traits, but the grilled cheese thing is just a Danny quirk.
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Another misconception is that the bit was a sketch from Gilly and Keeves. While Shane does plenty of sketches (like the "Uncle Daycare" one, which is also legendary), the "making them at night" story is pure stand-up. It's a personal anecdote that happened to have better writing than most sitcoms.
How to Lean Into the Meme
If you want to actually use this bit in your own life (or just understand why your nephew is laughing at a picture of Kraft Singles), here’s the breakdown.
- The Voice: You have to do the Danny whisper. It’s high-pitched, slightly breathless, and 100% confident.
- The Context: Use it whenever someone is doing something they aren't supposed to be doing, especially if it involves food or late-night activities.
- The Response: If someone asks "Where'd you get that [item]?", the only acceptable answer is "I'm making them at night."
It’s rare for a comedy bit to have this much staying power. Usually, memes die in two weeks. But the Danny story has been circulating since 2021 and only seems to get bigger as Shane's profile grows.
If you haven't seen the actual clip, go watch Live in Austin on YouTube. It’s free. It’s about 10 minutes into the set, and it’s a masterclass in how to tell a story about family without being sappy or cruel.
The next time you’re in the kitchen at midnight and you reach for the bread, just remember: Danny is out there somewhere, in his baggy shorts, proud of you.
Keep an eye on Shane’s upcoming tours and his Netflix work. The "Danny-verse" of stories is likely to expand, especially now that Shane has the platform to bring these stories to a global audience. For now, just make sure you know where your cheese is.
Next Steps for the Fans
- Watch the Source: Revisit the Live in Austin special on YouTube to catch the nuances of the delivery.
- Check out Tires: Shane’s Netflix show captures a similar "average Joe" humor that made the Danny bit so popular.
- Follow the Podcast: Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast is where most of these stories are road-tested before they ever hit a comedy special.