The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Episode: "Nepo Babies Trump and King Charles Meet in U.K. | Sylvester Stallone, Marlon Wayans"
Date: September 17, 2025
Guests: Sylvester Stallone, Marlon Wayans, Cardi B
House Band: The Roots

Episode Overview

This episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon blends topical humor, pop culture commentary, and celebrity interviews. The main themes include satirical takes on current events—specifically President Trump's U.K. visit—and in-depth, lively conversations with Hollywood icons Sylvester Stallone and Marlon Wayans. The episode is punctuated by a surprise FaceTime appearance from Cardi B, and includes signature comedic games and anecdotes about show business, aging, and family legacies.

Key Segments & Highlights

1. Jimmy Fallon’s Monologue: Trump’s U.K. Visit and More (01:13-06:02)

• Trump’s State Visit Satire

  • Jimmy humorously covers President Trump’s trip to the U.K., drawing parallels between Trump and King Charles as "nepo babies" who are used to inheriting (01:13).
  • Quote:
    "Over the years, Trump and Charles have actually bonded because they both know what it's like to inherit everything they have. Besides that, they also know what it's like to spend all day on the throne." — Jimmy (01:31)
  • Jokes extend to the royal family, especially Prince Andrew’s questionable hypothetical gifts to Trump, and riffing on Trump’s hands, food preferences, and the classic "pumpkin at midnight” Cinderella trope.

• TikTok Ban and Digital Culture

  • Trump administration allows TikTok to stay if it’s renamed “TrumpTalk” (03:26). Humorous takes on social media public reactions, underscoring generational differences.

• Economic and Lifestyle Headlines

  • Jokes about declining Dave and Buster’s sales (04:16), and a comedic "Stockwatch" segment, poking fun at trends impacting brands like Spirit Halloween, Venmo, and Cracker Barrel (04:26-05:30).

• Miscellaneous Jokes

  • Observational bit about Newark being the worst city for sleep—except for air traffic controllers (05:31).

2. Detroit Recap, Ad Week, and “On Brand” Teaser (06:19-08:13)

• Jimmy reminisces about a recent Detroit show and hyping Miller's Bar burgers (06:19-06:52).
• Brags about being on the cover of AdWeek and teases his upcoming NBC show, On Brand ("Shark Tank meets The Apprentice meets Project Runway") airing Sept 30 (07:13-08:13).
• Quote:
  "It's like Shark Tank meets the Apprentice meets Project Runway. Yeah, it's really fun. It's a good show." — Jimmy (07:20)

3. Cardi B’s Surprise FaceTime (08:53-10:19)

• Cardi B FaceTimes Jimmy live (08:53), revealing her new album Am I the Drama? dropping September 19th (09:15).
• Light-hearted banter about her album cover:
  • Cardi B: "Do you see my butt?" (09:32)
  • Jimmy: "I can see it a little bit." (09:34)
• Jimmy plugs Cardi’s tour and release date (10:09).

4. Interview: Sylvester Stallone (11:05-21:09)

4.1. Early Career Odd Jobs (11:34-12:48)

• Sly shares stories about his humble beginnings—cleaning lion cages and working at a deli (11:59).
  • Quote:
    "It only took me 79 years to go four blocks." — Stallone on his slow trajectory in NYC (11:46)
    "When you're broke, you'll take anything. So I was walking down the street... why not get a job cleaning lions' cages?" (11:59)
• Lively exchange about workplace food perks and challenges.

4.2. Doc & Memoir: “Sly” and “The Steps” (13:22-14:48)

• Discussion about the documentary Sly and preview of his upcoming memoir, The Steps, due in May.
  • Quote:
    "Our life really consists of steps. One step after another... These steps get higher and harder as you grow older. Trust me, it's all uphill all the way." — Stallone (13:48)

4.3. Life Lessons & Perseverance (14:48-15:08)

• Stallone inspires with this:
  • "You got to get to a point like, am I going to win or is life going to win? It's a battle. It's a punch out... it's the fight you put up that gets you where you want to go. So you just got to keep punching." (14:48)

4.4. “Stallone’s Greatest Movie” Game (15:21-17:33)

• Jimmy and Sly play a bracket-style game to determine Sly’s best film.
  • "Rocky IV" beats "Creed"
  • "First Blood" beats "Lords of Flatbush"
  • "Spy Kids 3" beats "Expendables" (joking needs to rename "Dependables" as he gets older)
  • "Rocky" edges out "Cliffhanger"
  • Quote:
    "If it could happen to me... it can happen." — Stallone reflects on his journey (17:33)

4.5. Tulsa King, Working with Family and Samuel L. Jackson (18:07-21:09)

• Celebrates Tulsa King’s 100% Rotten Tomatoes score and teases season three.
• Shares advice about acting with his daughter Scarlett Stallone, who is now on Tulsa King.
  • "I did [give her advice]. Until she said, 'I think I got it, dad.'... she was raised on a movie set." — Stallone (19:40)
• Teases Samuel L. Jackson joining the cast, likening it to "a heavyweight fight.”
• EXCLUSIVE: Tulsa King renewed for Season 4 (21:01).

5. Interview: Marlon Wayans (21:47-27:04)

5.1. Star-Struck Moments and Backstage with Cardi B (22:12-22:51)

• Marlon shares being starstruck meeting Stallone and jokes about being ignored backstage while Cardi B and Sly take a photo:
  • "I was talking to Cardi B backstage... then she saw Sly and said, move, Marlon." — Marlon (22:32)

5.2. Aging, Golf, and Cigar Talk (23:03-24:50)

• Jokes about aging (claims 53 but looks younger), adopting low-stress hobbies like golf and cigars.
• Lively banter mocking Jimmy’s failed attempt at cigar smoking:
  • "You got some real bad, weird smoking habits. You the only guy I know to go down on a cigar." — Marlon (24:33)
  • Jimmy recounts Schwarzenegger's cigar lesson.

5.3. Hollywood Friendships & Hamptons FOMO (25:07-25:47)

• Jokingly confronts Jimmy for not inviting him to hang out in the Hamptons (25:07), friendly accusations about fake phone numbers—"I got receipts!"

5.4. New Film: “Him” (25:58-27:04)

• Marlon introduces his new psychological horror film Him (in theaters and IMAX Friday), produced by Jordan Peele.
  • "It's kind of like Black Swan with football." — Marlon (26:22)
  • Gist: Kid gets injured, joins camp for elite quarterbacks led by Marlon’s character, blurring lines between mentorship and rivalry.
• Quote:
  "It's kind of like if I went to Sylvester Stallone's camp... I'm a fight Rocky. And then Rocky's like, I'm a beat your ass. And you like, bet." — Marlon (26:53)

Notable Quotes

• Jimmy Fallon:
  "Charles and Camilla are Trump's second favorite king and queen next to burger and dairy." (01:16)
• Sylvester Stallone:
  "Our life really consists of steps. One step after another... These steps get higher and harder as you grow older." (13:48)
• Cardi B:
  "Do you see my butt?" (09:32)
• Marlon Wayans:
  "You the only guy I know to go down on a cigar." (24:33)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Trump U.K. Visit & Monologue: 01:13 – 04:10
• Stockwatch/Economy Jokes: 04:26 – 05:30
• Detroit Recap & On Brand Plug: 06:19 – 08:13
• Cardi B FaceTime: 08:53 – 10:19
• Sylvester Stallone Interview: 11:05 – 21:09
  • Memoir "The Steps": 13:36 – 14:48
  • Movie Game: 15:53 – 17:33
  • Tulsa King/Family/Samuel L. Jackson: 18:07 – 21:09
• Marlon Wayans Interview: 21:47 – 27:04
  • Backstage with Cardi B: 22:32
  • Cigar/Golf Anecdotes: 23:03 – 24:50
  • New Movie “Him”: 25:58 – 27:04

Memorable Moments

• Cardi B showing off her album cover via FaceTime and asking Jimmy if he can see her “butt,” prompting laughter from audience and guests. (09:32)
• Sylvester Stallone describing his early career odd jobs, including cleaning lions' cages, with characteristic dry humor. (11:59)
• The playful “greatest Stallone movie” bracket game and Stallone's self-deprecating jokes (“Dependables”). (16:52)
• Marlon Wayans' stories of being upstaged by Stallone and Cardi B backstage.
• Banter about Jimmy’s bizarre cigar-smoking technique, leading to Marlon’s memorable zinger.

Episode Tone & Style

Consistent with The Tonight Show’s irreverent, quick-witted, and high-energy tone. Banter is warm and self-deprecating, marked by in-jokes, friendly roasts, and celebrity camaraderie. The episode balances timely satirical comedy and genuine moments of inspiration, especially in Stallone’s reflections and Marlon’s career anecdotes.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode is a lively, joke-filled celebration of pop culture and perseverance, with monologue-driven satire on current events (Trump in the U.K., TikTok debates), engaging conversations with legendary and contemporary Hollywood talent, and viral moments like a FaceTime drop-in from Cardi B. Stallone shares hard-won advice about success and longevity, Marlon Wayans provides comic relief and realness about Hollywood and aging, and the show wraps in the usual rhythm-driven style with The Roots.

Whether you’re a fan of sharp wit, Hollywood storytelling, or just want to know why Jimmy Fallon was accused of “going down on a cigar,” this episode is a quintessential Tonight Show ride.