The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Episode: Jimmy Reacts to Kimmel's Return After Disney Suspension | The Cast of One Battle After Another, Kate McKinnon, Ian Lara
Air Date: September 24, 2025

Episode Overview

This high-energy episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon features playful political and pop culture commentary, a star-packed conversation about the buzzy new film "One Battle After Another", an engaging appearance by comedian Kate McKinnon, and standup from Ian Lara. Fallon maintains his signature humor throughout with sharp monologue zingers, spirited banter with guests, and a touch of interactive audience fun.

Main Segments & Highlights

1. Jimmy's Monologue: UN Week Jabs, Trump Zingers, and Late-Night In-Jokes

Timestamps: 01:05 – 05:04

• Jimmy Fallon opens with a wink at recent controversies, referencing another late-night host:

  "If you're tuning in to see what I'll say about my suspension the last couple days, again, you're watching the wrong Jimmy, Dad. The other Jimmy, Dad." (01:05)

• The United Nations General Assembly, President Trump's speech, and malfunctioning teleprompters are ripe for comic turns.
• Notable recurring gag: testing Trump's geopolitical knowledge, with surreal answers delivered in a call-and-response with his “Secret Service Agent”.
  • Sample exchanges:
    • "Sweden." "Alf loves Krispy Kreme."
    • "Paraguay." "Santa Claus's penis."
• Running gags about Swedish diplomats and spoofed diplomatic mishaps.
• Zings about current TV events (Golden Bachelor, Catfish getting cancelled).
• Fallon promotes his new show, "On Brand", through a mock-tutorial aimed at his dad for how to record or stream the show, complete with faux exasperation and classic Fallon family bits.

  "I'm not talking to you specifically, dad, but you can now, dad, use your remote control..." (06:28)

2. Interview: The Cast of "One Battle After Another"

Timestamps: 08:29 – 15:29
Guests: Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Regina Hall, Benicio Del Toro, Kate McKinnon

Key Discussion Points:

• The Theatrical Experience
  • DiCaprio: Film was "specifically designed for the theatrical experience" in VistaVision.

    "People are always hungry for this kind of original material. And this is the film to experience in a theater with people." – Leonardo DiCaprio, 09:02

• Spielberg's Endorsement
  • Fallon notes Spielberg saw it three times; panel discusses a breathtaking, wave-like car chase sequence.
• Acting and Improvisation
  • McKinnon: On action chaos—

    "It's not in the... No, it said chaos. Tbd." (Kate McKinnon, 10:08)

  • Movie's blend of humor, action, memorable score, and standout moments from co-star Sean Penn.
• Cast Chemistry & Origins
  • Kate McKinnon and Teyana Taylor recall their first meeting at a Diana Ross party, colorfully recounting nerves and playful interaction.

    "We just started chewing his invisible gum, and we never stopped." – Kate McKinnon, 11:36

• Character Building
  • Benicio Del Toro on getting offered his role:

    "Paul calls you up, and you already say yes... He sent me a picture of a poster of a tiger dressed in judo kimono. And that's my character." (12:56)

  • Lead character is described as a washed-up revolutionary pulled into espionage, laced with comedy and "all the wrong decisions." (DiCaprio, 14:04)
• Find the Heart: Casting Chase Infinity
  • DiCaprio and McKinnon reveal the intense casting process for the actress who grounds the film; she was "the last girl we read with."

    "We knew she was the heart and soul of the movie. And if you didn't care about getting this girl back, the whole movie was gonna fall on its face." – DiCaprio, 14:41

• Wrapping the Segment
  • DiCaprio sums up:

    "It's a very topical espionage thriller with a hell of a lot of comedy... there's satire in it, and it's a lot of fun and a great cast." (15:10)

3. Kate McKinnon Interview: Books, SNL Legends, and Gardening Games

Timestamps: 15:42 – 24:06

• Book Launch and SNL Memories
  • McKinnon debuts her new kids' book "Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science: Secrets of the Purple Pearl" (on sale September 30th).
  • Fallon praises her iconic "Close Encounter" SNL sketch and nervously calling Meryl Streep to ask her to join:

    "She was so nice, and she was like, I'm excited. I'll do it. I have a wig that I think would work. And I was like, babe, I think they'll get your wig." – Kate McKinnon, 18:05

• Writing for Kids and Meeting Fans
  • McKinnon reflects on connecting with kids who share animal facts and brings up her own naturalist childhood, leading to a hilarious anecdote:

    "One time I brought home what I took to be a piece of white seaweed, and I was like, mom, look at it. It's white seaweed. And she was like, that is a condom." (19:58)

• Garden Show-and-Tell
  • Both Fallon and McKinnon compare garden produce, leading to playful banter about naming vegetables:

    "This tomato I named... This is Hemorrhoid Harry." – McKinnon, 21:54 "This zucchini struck me as, like, a hard puritan woman named, like, you think so, Abigail Good Squash..." (22:00)

  • McKinnon explains lacto-fermented pickles (“the acid is produced from the butts of the bacteria that are in there,” 22:52).
• Audience Game: Find the Eggplant
  • McKinnon reveals she hid mini eggplants under random audience seats, and winners receive... the eggplant.

    "The prize is the eggplant itself." (24:02)

  • Fallon is delighted:

    "This is my favorite thing I've ever seen." – Fallon, 23:53

4. Stand-Up: Ian Lara

Timestamps: 24:48 – 30:40

• Men vs. Women Friendships
  • Lara opens with observations on the distinct differences between male and female friendships and group outings.

    "Men can't really do that. Like, we can hang out, but we gotta be strategic with the planning..." (25:16)

  • Explores the longevity and superficiality of male friendships with biting humor.

    "Men friendships are stronger than women friendships. Because we don't bother to get to know each other." (26:25)

  • Crowd-pleasing act-out about men not knowing each other’s birthdays, while women have “ex best friends” over trivial things.

    "No man has an ex best friend. I never been at the gym with one of my boys and he's like, bro, we gotta get outta here. My ex just walked in... No, the dude with the headband." (28:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Fallon on Trump at the UN:

  "Trump talked for an hour and at one point he said that the European countries were going to hell. After listening to a ramble for 45 minutes, European leaders were like, I feel like we're already there." (01:41)

• McKinnon recounting her childhood “white seaweed”:

  "And she was like, that is a condom." (20:08)

• On lacto-fermentation:

  "The acid is produced from the butts of the bacteria that are in there." – McKinnon, 22:52

• Ian Lara’s summary of male friendship:

  "30 years we've been best friends. I don't know nothing about him. He don't know nothing about me. And we're tight. It’s my brother. I’m joking. I know his favorite teams. I’m not a monster." (29:44)

Episode Structure

• [01:05 – 05:04]: Jimmy’s monologue: riffing on the UN, Trump, recent TV happenings
• [08:29 – 15:29]: "One Battle After Another" cast interview: film production, cast stories, character development, laughter
• [15:42 – 24:06]: Kate McKinnon interview: SNL memories, writing, vegetable names, audience game
• [24:48 – 30:40]: Ian Lara stand-up: male/female friendship differences, audience connection
• [31:22 – End]: Credits and thanks

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode delivers classic Tonight Show charm: playful, quick-witted, and deeply interactive. Fallon's chemistry with guests shines through, balancing star-studded Hollywood discussion with unique personal insights and games. The show is fast-paced and irreverent, with heartwarming undercurrents—particularly in McKinnon’s segments—and uproarious standup from Lara to close.

For New Listeners

This episode is a showcase of Fallon’s multi-faceted late-night format. Expect sharp punchlines, celebrity banter full of inside stories, and a blend of old-fashioned showmanship and modern quirks. Skip to your favorite celebrity or catch the monologue for current-events laughs—it’s accessible, lively late-night TV at its best.