Podcast Summary: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Episode: Trump Calls for the Release of the Epstein Files | Michelle Yeoh, Hank Azaria, RAYE
Date: November 18, 2025
Host: Jimmy Fallon
Guests: Michelle Yeoh, Hank Azaria, RAYE

Episode Overview

This episode of The Tonight Show brings together pop culture, politics, comedy sketches, and star-studded guest interviews. Jimmy Fallon's monologue skewers current events, notably President Trump's call to release the Epstein files, trade tariffs, and holiday shopping woes. The show then transitions to engaging discussions with Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh, Emmy-winning actor Hank Azaria, and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter RAYE, each sharing distinct stories about their craft and recent projects. Along the way, comedic sketches, character bits, and playful banter showcase the signature Tonight Show flair.

Monologue & Opening Sketches

Tackling Politics and Holiday Drama
[01:12 – 08:21]

• Trump & the Epstein Files:
  Jimmy addresses Trump’s abrupt support for releasing the "Epstein files" with trademark wit:

  “In other words, he just finished hiding everything.” – Jimmy Fallon [01:17]

• Trump and McDonald's:
  Jimmy jokes about Trump meeting with McDonald’s executives to discuss "affordability," and cracks about Ronald McDonald commenting on Trump's makeup.

• Holiday Tariffs & Sketches:

  • Tariffs are driving up prices on Christmas decorations and wine. Jimmy debuts a fake product:

    “Introducing Trump’s Yule log. It’s made entirely of pure American oak. And the Epstein files.” – Jimmy Fallon [01:54]

  • Comedy character "Trish Pickett, an aunt who loves wine," is interviewed about rising wine prices, delivering chaotic one-liners and anecdotes:

    “The only price I ever pay for drinking wine is the next morning when I wake up face down in my neighbor’s flower bed to discover I just bought a chandelier on Wayfair.” – Trish Pickett [03:20]
    “One time in 1972, that denim drape, ding dong smoked so much ganja he fell asleep for three days and woke up inside of a mattress.” – Trish Pickett [03:57]

• Swiss Tariffs Sketch:
  A "Swiss economist" character, Tobias Niederhauser, gives the Swiss perspective on a new trade deal. In exaggerated accent, he jokes about investment promises and ends with:

  “I ski down every day. I ski and I like to go around. We pay the bills for America right now. Cause we are down and Trump can go to hell.” – Tobias Niederhauser [07:59]

Celebrity Whispers Segment

Comedic Parody of Red Carpet Gossip
[08:21 – 10:10]

Fallon and crew perform imagined "celebrity whispers" into hidden mics:

• Running gags about repeating favorite months, “owing money” at the red carpet, and joking about fighting and secret pen techniques.
• Lighthearted, improvisational moment:

  “Let’s dance with each other – no, I’m kidding.” – Sidekick [09:05]

Michelle Yeoh Interview

Celebrating Film, Music, and Family
[10:39 – 17:55]

Key Topics:

• Michelle stars in "Wicked for Good" (in theaters this Friday).
• Discussion of her birthday, her fondness for the collectible Labubu toys:

  “Maybe a little more than 100 of them...they come in big and small, you know, you can’t just choose.” – Michelle Yeoh [13:02]

• On joining the Billboard charts for a song from “Wicked” and overcoming singing nerves with Cynthia Erivo’s encouragement:

  “Cynthia came up to me...looked at me with those beautiful eyes...‘I know you can do this. Just sing.’” – Michelle Yeoh [14:25]

• On playing the villain Madame Morrible and connecting with her godchildren & grand-godchild in Malaysia:

  “My grandgodchild...when I came on the call, she looked at me and she ran away...” – Michelle Yeoh [16:05]

• Yeoh explains how her dance background inspired the choreography for her villainous role, with input from director Jon M. Chu:

  “This is your time where you’re generating your tempest, your storm...bring all the energy in small ball.” – Michelle Yeoh [17:49]

Hank Azaria Interview

Voices, Longevity, and Springsteen
[18:23 – 23:21]

Key Topics:

• 37 seasons as a voice actor on The Simpsons:

  “Every sound I can make as a human being has been farmed at one point, harvested.” – Hank Azaria [19:27]

• How Mo the Bartender’s voice was created, blending Al Pacino and Bruce Springsteen impressions:

  “You take Bruce Springsteen on one end and young Al Pacino on the other. Right in the middle there is Mo the bartender.” – Hank Azaria [20:18]

• Discusses his new series The Artist, playing Thomas Edison, and describes the show as:

  “Like Downton Abbey on acid.” – Hank Azaria [21:05]

• Story of forming and fronting a Bruce Springsteen tribute band, which started as a birthday surprise for himself, raising $30,000 for charity.

• Receiving direct praise from Bruce Springsteen (via dentist's video):

  “While I have a terrible toothache, I’ve been fantastically entertained by your version of ‘Prove It All Night,’ which I gotta say, was pretty darn good.” – Bruce Springsteen (as recounted by Hank Azaria) [22:44]

RAYE Interview

Music Success, Collaborations, and Aspirations
[23:21 – 30:00]

Key Topics:

• Recap of RAYE’s breakout: four-time Grammy nominee, first artist nominated for both Songwriter of the Year and Best New Artist in the same year, opened for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour.

  “It’s a huge deal.” – RAYE [24:31]

• On being on the cover of British Vogue and sitting next to Anna Wintour:

  “She’s the queen of bobs...so lovely...she’s listening to Bad Bunny!” – RAYE [25:02]

• Collaborative sessions with Mark Ronson, seeing Amy Winehouse’s handwritten lyrics in Ronson’s studio:

  “He just got out...Amy Winehouse’s writing from Back to Black...I paused the session for about 45 minutes just so that I could just stare at it.” – RAYE [26:28]

• Recounts writing her first ever song at age eight by “sampling” a jazz standard from a kid’s TV show:

  “Sampling is actually a songwriting art, so actually I was kind of right...from that age.” – RAYE [27:59]

• Upcoming album in “the first half of next year”—title not yet revealed—plus her "This Tour May Contain New Music" tour, two sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall, and long-term dream to open a jazz club:

  “Just have like, like true musicians just pull up jam nights...be open till 5am, yeah, that’s my plan.” – RAYE [29:36]

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• Political Satire (Epstein Files / Trump):

  “We have nothing to hide. In other words, he just finished hiding everything.” – Jimmy Fallon [01:12]

• Comedic Characters:

  “I call it ‘yes swore’ because I never say no to it.” – Trish Pickett [03:20]

• Showbiz Magic:

  “Bring all the energy in small ball. Small ball. Channeling, and then—” – Michelle Yeoh (on generating a magical tempest on screen) [17:49]

• Hollywood Dreams:

  “You take Bruce Springsteen on one end and young Al Pacino on the other. Right in the middle there is Mo the bartender.” – Hank Azaria [20:18]

• Musical Legacy & Inspiration:

  “I paused the session for about 45 minutes just so that I could just stare at it.” – RAYE (on Amy Winehouse’s notebook) [26:28]

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|-------------------------------------------| | 01:12 | Jimmy Fallon on Trump & Epstein Files | | 03:05 | Aunt Who Loves Wine sketch begins | | 05:25 | Announcement on U.S.-Switzerland trade | | 08:21 | Celebrity Whispers comedy bit | | 10:39 | Michelle Yeoh interview starts | | 18:23 | Hank Azaria interview starts | | 23:21 | RAYE interview starts | | 27:20 | RAYE on writing her first song |

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a blend of sharp late-night satire, playful banter, star admiration, and genuine warmth. Guests are encouraged to share behind-the-scenes moments and personal stories while also participating in classic Tonight Show fun and games.

Conclusion

This episode delivers everything fans expect from The Tonight Show: timely comedic commentary on political news, imaginative original sketches, and candid, heartwarming interviews with leading figures from entertainment and music. Whether riffing on trending headlines, recounting Hollywood stories, or revealing inspiring tales of creative process, the show is high-energy, humorous, and inviting throughout.