Late-Night Shift: Greg Gutfeld‘s “Tonight Show” Appearance Highlights Rising Fox News host’s Influence – Greg Gutfeld, host of the Fox News program “Gutfeld!”, appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Thursday, marking a rare crossover between cable news and traditional broadcast late night. The appearance followed the recent proclamation that Stephen Colbert will conclude his 28-year run hosting “The Late Show” on CBS in 2026.
During the segment,Fallon congratulated Gutfeld on his success,and the conversation concluded with a promotion for “What Did I Miss?”,Gutfeld’s new game show on Fox Nation. The show challenges contestants, isolated for 100 days, too distinguish between genuine and fabricated news headlines. Gutfeld noted the inherent unpredictability of former President Donald Trump as contributing to the show’s appeal, while Fallon quipped that sequestration wasn’t even necessary to test viewers’ grasp of current events.
“Gutfeld!” airs at 11 p.m. ET, 90 minutes earlier than “The Tonight Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, yet Gutfeld has consistently asserted that his show attracts a larger audience. Following Colbert’s announcement, Fox News published an article on Foxnews.com highlighting “Gutfeld!”‘s ratings growth since its 2021 debut. The article emphasized that “Gutfeld!” has outperformed “The Late Show” in viewership for nearly two years, despite being broadcast on a cable network with a smaller reach.
Gutfeld characterized the cancellation of “The Late Show” as more than just a show ending, stating, “They didn’t just cancel the show. They canceled the whole show.” He likened the situation to a restaurant ceasing to serve food due to a chef’s incompetence, adding, “You can’t do a comedy show and a sermon at the same time.”
Prior to his appearance, Gutfeld playfully teased the crossover on social media, comparing it to “the biggest crossover since the Harlem Globetrotters visited the Golden Girls.” He also subtly criticized other late-night hosts, stating that Fallon’s willingness to appear with him demonstrated a lack of fear of upsetting peers or resisting his “mesmerizing charm.”
Fallon’s Thursday monologue included jokes targeting President Trump, such as a reference to tariffs, but “The Tonight Show” has generally reduced its political commentary in recent years.This contrasts with the approach of hosts like Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers, who have increased their focus on political satire.
Thursday’s episode of “The Tonight Show” also featured appearances by the Jonas Brothers and a musical performance by Good Charlotte.
