The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Episode: Jimmy Breaks Down Trump's March Madness Bracket | Kerry Washington, Riz Ahmed
Date: March 19, 2026
Host: Jimmy Fallon
Guests: Kerry Washington, Riz Ahmed
Band: The Roots
Episode Overview
This lively episode of The Tonight Show blends sharp political satire, March Madness mania, and engaging celebrity interviews. Jimmy Fallon and his team kick off with a comedy segment lampooning Trump’s NCAA tournament bracket and recent headlines before welcoming acclaimed guests Kerry Washington and Riz Ahmed. Washington discusses her producing endeavors and new series "Imperfect Women," while Ahmed shares stories from working with Tom Cruise and his own starring vehicle "Bait." The show brims with quick wit, pop culture nods, and warm, open conversation.
Key Segments and Discussion Highlights
1. Monologue: March Madness & Political Satire
Starts 01:12
- The opening segment riffed on the arrival of March Madness, with jokes about workplace productivity and the randomness of college basketball picks.
- Fallon's team unveiled a comedic Trump impersonator sketch, featuring Trump's fictional, highly idiosyncratic bracket choices:
- “Louisville versus South Florida. I love South Florida. That’s where I hit all the Epstein nothings. Louisville wins.” (01:57)
- “UCLA versus UCF. Are these schools or names of Elon’s kids?...”
- “And the overall winner is... Trump University. Tuition’s cheaper than gas. Bye.” (02:54)
Memorable Jokes:
- "There’s nothing more exciting than watching Duke take on Devry University. Just seems fair." (01:20)
- A riff where businesses like Netflix, Waffle House, and even Capri Sun “claim” Trump’s slogans, poking fun at his hyperbolic style.
- “It’s just so damn hard to pierce through that narrow opening. Then Capri Sun said, ‘Hey, that’s our slogan.’” (04:23)
2. Pop Culture News & Parody
Approx. 05:00
- Satirical commentary hit the headlines (Justice Department, NASA's Pluto request), blending in quick jabs:
- “It's not good when being a federal prosecutor has the same requirements as a cashier at Lids.” (05:03)
- Joke about Pluto: “Trump heard that. He was like, in that case, we’re naming it Planet Marco Rubio.” (05:13)
- A rapid-fire, star-studded spoof trailer for “Dune Part 3,” stacking up increasingly absurd celebrity cameos—including “all of BTS,” “the Mucinex guy,” and “Bluey.” (05:51)
3. Extended Interview: Kerry Washington
Starts 08:28
Highlights:
- Congratulated for receiving an Icon Award at Essence’s Black Women in Hollywood luncheon:
- “I actually got an award from them…for being, like, a breakthrough artist, like, 14 years ago.” (09:54)
- Recounted returning, this time as an icon, noting personal and professional growth.
- Reflected on her first time at the luncheon:
- “There was no sense of…competition or contempt or jealousy. I just felt so much love in the room and support.” (10:33)
- Revealed it inspired her to found a production company: “I want to start a production company and create opportunities for more of us, so there’s not just this one role that we’re all competing for, you know?” (10:56)
- On producing:
- “When you’re an actor…you feel like you’re sitting at home waiting for somebody to invite you to a party. And when you’re a producer, you get to throw the party.” (11:16)
- “Imperfect Women” origin story:
- Elisabeth Moss discovered the source novel in an airport and took seven years to adapt for TV.
- Washington describes the series as a “juicy, psychological thriller” where three college friends confront secrets after one dies. (14:10)
On Broadway & Whoopi Goldberg:
- Washington is executive producing a reimagining of Whoopi Goldberg’s iconic one-woman show with five actresses at Lincoln Center.
- “You can’t do what Whoopi did because she is a true icon. So, we’re doing five actresses to do her one-woman show.” (12:25)
- Reminisced about watching Whoopi’s show as a young child:
- “Some of the characters cursed. And…my mom…she used to let me curse because she was like, ‘An art. It’s Broadway. You can curse for Broadway.’” (13:13)
Fun, Lighthearted Banter:
- A recurring joke about the classic Milford Plaza ad:
- “I have to stay there because the bellman sing to you.” (13:42)
4. Extended Interview: Riz Ahmed
Starts 15:15
On Acting and New Projects:
- Recently played Hamlet, describing it as a “big deal” and a longtime dream. (15:56)
- Shared a Tom Cruise story from their new movie "Digger":
- Cruise paused rehearsal to praise Ahmed’s willingness to experiment:
- “When you try things like that and you’re creating and you’re taking swings, I love it.” (16:52)
On New Series ‘Bait’:
- Premise: An out-of-work actor auditions to be the next James Bond, leading to an escalating spiral:
- “So, when word gets out he is in the running, people have a lot of strong opinions…His life spirals out of control. It soon feels like the kind of spy thriller he is auditioning for...” (17:37–17:44)
- Explains the layered meaning of “bait”:
- “Bait is London slang for being really blatant and attention-seeking…Bait in Urdu and Hindi means your loyalty or your allegiance. Bait in Arabic and Hebrew means home or family. And bait in a spy thriller…means something used as part of a trap.” (18:19–18:46)
- Clever meta-commentary:
- “Let me create a TV show where I play an actor auditioning to be James Bond and make it at the studio that now controls James Bond. Inception.” (19:30)
James Bond Audition Humor:
- Responds tongue-in-cheek to perennial “Bond” casting speculation about himself:
- “Traditionally, actors playing James Bond have always been five foot nine or over, but the rumors aren’t true. I’m five foot eight and a half, not five foot eight.” (20:32–20:44)
- “In what world do you want a secret agent to blend in with the New York Knicks?” (20:46)
- Shares a childhood photo, quipping:
- “Guess how old I was in that photo? 007.” (21:24–21:32)
Memorable Closing:
- On the American ethos:
- “Cause this is what I love about America, Jimmy. This is the land of why not?” (21:46)
- “Should we put peanut butter inside chocolate? Why not? … Should we put a reality TV star in the White House? Why not?” (22:13–22:28)
- “Should Riz Ahmed be the next James Bond? If anybody asks, you just say, why not?” (22:33–22:39)
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
Trump Bracket Parody:
- “The overall winner is…Trump University. Tuition’s cheaper than gas. Bye.” — Comedic commentator (02:52)
-
Kerry Washington on Producing Success:
- “When you’re a producer, you get to throw the party. You’re like, it’s my party.” — Kerry Washington (11:16)
-
Riz Ahmed on Tom Cruise's Directing Style:
- “When you try things like that and you’re creating and you’re taking swings, I love it.” — Tom Cruise (as quoted by Riz Ahmed) (16:52)
-
Riz Ahmed on American Optimism:
- “This is the land of why not?...Should Riz Ahmed be the next James Bond? If anybody asks, you just say, why not?” — Riz Ahmed (21:46, 22:39)
Important Timestamps
- 01:12–04:52: March Madness and Trump parody, slogan skit
- 05:00–06:32: Pop culture headlines (Justice Department, NASA, Dune 3 spoof)
- 08:28–14:48: Kerry Washington interview: career, producing, "Imperfect Women," Whoopi Goldberg project
- 15:15–22:39: Riz Ahmed interview: Hamlet, working with Tom Cruise, "Bait," James Bond campaign
Final Notes & Energy
The show maintains its signature playful, spontaneous tone, marked by affectionate ribbing between the cast, self-aware pop culture callbacks, and genuine enthusiasm for guests’ projects. Both Kerry Washington and Riz Ahmed sparkle in the interviews, sharing professional insights with humor and warmth, while Fallon steers the conversation with characteristic quick wit and camaraderie.
Overall:
A rich blend of topical comedy, earnest career talk, and celebrity charm—perfect for fans of late-night, pop culture, and behind-the-scenes television.
