The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Episode: Trump Is Desperate to Meet with Kim Jong Un | Liam Hemsworth, Leanne Morgan, Trae Young
Date: October 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This lively Tonight Show episode blends Jimmy Fallon's trademark topical humor with celebrity interviews and playful segments. The main theme centers around national and pop culture events, comedic news stories, and engaging conversations with guests: Liam Hemsworth (discussing The Witcher and wild celebrity encounters), stand-up star Leanne Morgan (with tales from her family and comedy career), and NBA All-Star Trae Young (covering music crossovers and season ambitions). The tone is fast-paced, witty, and full of playful banter, with the monologue and sketches leaning into the absurdity of current events.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Monologue & Topical Jokes (00:05–07:06)

• Trump in Tokyo
  • President Trump visits Tokyo, meets female Prime Minister, and displays odd behavior, like dipping sushi in ketchup.
    • “The prime minister said it was her first time seeing someone dip their sushi in ketchup.” – Steve Higgins (01:13)
  • PM gifts Trump golf paraphernalia and claims to nominate him for Nobel Peace Prize.
    • “Trump was like, I think I found my soulmate.” – Unidentified Writer (01:42)
• Cherry Blossom Diplomacy
  • Japan plans to gift 250 cherry blossom trees to the US for its 250th anniversary, with the writers riffing that Trump wants to bulldoze them for a driving range (01:57).
• Kim Jong Un Meeting Gag
  • Sketch-style riff on Trump’s desire to meet Kim Jong Un, spiraling from political to pop-culture references.
    • “No karaoke. No Korean barbecue. No North Korean barbecue. No couple's costume as the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda...” – Unidentified Writer paraphrasing Trump (02:19)
    • Mix-up between Kim Jong Un and Kim Kardashian; joke about congratulating Kim on Skims (02:41).
• Pop-Culture Bites
  • MSNBC rebrands to “Ms. Now”; Elon Musk launches “Grokipedia” (wikipedia alternative).
  • Chili’s brings back skillet queso after backlash—handled in a comedic, mock-interview sketch with Liam Hemsworth intentionally echoing lines (“Really mad. Really mad. Really mad.”) (03:48–04:35).
• Sports Gags
  • Dodgers beat Blue Jays in a 6-hour, 39-minute, 18-inning World Series game, with funny fake fan signs (05:04).
  • Rapid-fire bit where an announcer mispronounces NBA player names with absurd results (“Dairy Queen,” “Bruce Springsteen,” “Matzo balls”) (06:08–07:04).

2. Halloween Candy Bracket with Chris Paul (07:07–08:28)

• Chris Paul judges head-to-head Halloween candies.
  • “Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Easy.” – Chris Paul (07:29)
  • Outcome: Reese’s beats all, crowned his lifetime favorite.
    • “It's always gonna be Reese's for me. That's when my mom was checking out... that's what I had to have.” – Chris Paul (08:16)

3. Interview: Liam Hemsworth (10:06–18:08)

• Engagement Story & Life Updates
  • Liam got engaged amid a busy Witcher shooting schedule, with a candid recount of proposing without much grandeur but perfect timing.
    • “I didn't have a huge plan behind the engagement. I mean, I had enough of a plan to have bought the ring.” – Liam (10:35)
• VIP Taylor Swift 'ERAS' Concert at Wembley
  • Shares anecdotes of being in a star-studded “VIP tent” with Tom Cruise, Hugh Grant, Ashton Kutcher, Greta Gerwig, and Taylor Swift’s circle.
    • “He called over Hugh Grant and Ashton Kutcher and Greta Gerwig and all these people in this tent, and they all came over, and we started doing shots.” – Liam (12:01)
    • Hugh Grant’s willingness to join in becomes a running joke.
• Chris Hemsworth Drumming for Ed Sheeran
  • Relays the story of his brother Chris learning drums for a public performance with Ed Sheeran, despite zero prior experience.
  • Candid sibling reactions (“Why did you do this?”); commends Chris for taking on wild challenges (14:56).
• The Witcher: Becoming Geralt
  • Offers insight into accepting the lead role after Henry Cavill, being a fan of the games and Cavill’s portrayal.
    • “They asked if I'd want to come and do the last two seasons. And I'd played the video games eight years before that.” – Liam (15:36)
  • Immersive costume experience—special contact lenses create tunnel vision, heightening his performance.
    • “It was an incredibly immersive experience where it literally felt like you're in another body...” – Liam (16:43)
  • Teases Geralt's story arc this season: serious injury, self-doubt, and his quest to save his daughter.
    • “He's dealing with a lot of negative thoughts and things you wouldn't naturally think that this figure ... has dealt with in the past.” – Liam (17:20)

4. Interview: Leanne Morgan (18:33–24:33)

• Recent Birthday & Family Celebration
  • Leanne jokes about turning 60, celebrating humbly with family and “grocery store cakes.” Shares delight in “bay fishing,” loving the calm and simplicity (20:04).
  • “We stayed in every night and cooked and kissed grandbabies in the mouth. And my kids bought me two grocery store cakes, and I stood at the counter and ate them with a fork.” – Leanne (19:44)
• Husband Chuck Morgan, Fame, and Frugality
  • Humorous take on her husband’s resistance to spending: touring with her daughter, sharing beds to save on hotels, and being teased by Reese Witherspoon.
    • “Chuck does not like for me to spend money. And, you know, I've made a little bit lately.” – Leanne (21:00)
    • “Are y’all poor on tour?” – Reese Witherspoon (21:54)
• Celebrity Family Feud
  • Family won against country singer Lainey Wilson, with kids ironically expecting their parents to mess up, but Leanne and Chuck pulled through (22:14).
• Natural Performer
  • Talks about always loving attention, “dazzling” her school choir despite having to lip-sync (23:27).
  • Excited for future on-show musical bits, but insists she can't really sing.
• Netflix Special: Unspeakable Things
  • Title inspired by marital humor:
    • “Unspeakable Things means that I have to do unspeakable things with Chuck Morgan in a hotel room.” – Leanne (23:47)
    • Comic riff on long-term marriage and hotel room dynamics.

5. Interview: Trae Young (24:54–28:52)

• Virgo Birthday Bond with Fallon
  • Ace small talk about sharing a birthday (September 19) with Jimmy, joking about Virgo traits (“We just know a better way to do things.”) (25:24–25:44).
• NBA Reflections and Mindset
  • Trae’s 8th season with the Hawks, four-time All-Star, three-time assist leader.
    • “Obviously the win and the loss column is obviously the biggest stat ... I want to win a championship.” – Trae (26:31, 26:40)
• Music Collaboration with Quavo
  • Shares experience switching roles with rapper Quavo for a Billboard feature, recording the single “Where I Stay.”
    • “Going to the studio with him, I got to see kind of how he made a song ... he’s been somebody who welcomed me to Atlanta from day one like a big brother.” – Trae (27:19, 27:36)
  • Fallon and crew riff on his rap alias “Ice Tray.”
• Looking to the NBA Season
  • Discusses goals for the year and upcoming games, aiming for team cohesion and wins.
    • “We plan to win. ... this is the beginning of the season ... but we plan to win and take it day by day.” – Trae (28:40)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Trump meeting Kim joke spiral:
  “No karaoke. No Korean barbecue. No North Korean barbecue. No couple's costume as the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda. ... No binge watch all the Avatar movies.” – Unidentified Writer (02:19)
• Rapid-fire NBA “name game”:
  “Dairy Queen.” “Bruce Springsteen.” “Matzo balls.” – Unidentified Announcer/Producer (06:22–06:53)
• Chris Paul’s candy supremacy:
  “It’s always gonna be Reese’s for me. That’s when my mom was checking out ... that’s what I had to have.” – Chris Paul (08:16)
• Liam Hemsworth’s VIP tent at ERAS tour:
  “He called over Hugh Grant and Ashton Kutcher and Greta Gerwig and all these people ... and we started doing shots.” – Liam (12:01)
• Leanne Morgan on marriage:
  “Unspeakable Things means that I have to do unspeakable things with Chuck Morgan in a hotel room.” – Leanne (23:47)
• Trae Young on priorities:
  “Obviously the win and the loss column is obviously the biggest stat ... I want to win a championship.” – Trae (26:31, 26:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:05–07:06]: Monologue & topical jokes
• [07:07–08:28]: Halloween candy bracket with Chris Paul
• [10:06–18:08]: Liam Hemsworth interview (engagement, The Witcher, celebrity encounters)
• [18:33–24:33]: Leanne Morgan interview (birthday, family comedy, touring life)
• [24:54–28:52]: Trae Young interview (career, music collab, NBA hopes)

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode keeps the banter sharp and zany, shifting swiftly from news satire to candid celebrity stories, never lingering long on any single topic. Fallon's energy and willingness to riff with both guests and co-hosts creates an entertaining, variety-show atmosphere. There’s a warm camaraderie among guests, spontaneous humor, and plenty of light-hearted self-deprecation.

Summary Table

| Time | Segment | Notable Moments/Quotes | |-----------|-----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | 00:05 | Monologue & Topical Jokes | Trump in Tokyo, Kim joke spiral, Chili’s skit | | 07:07 | Halloween Candy Bracket | “It’s always gonna be Reese’s for me.” | | 10:06 | Liam Hemsworth Interview | VIP tent, The Witcher role, brother drumming | | 18:33 | Leanne Morgan Interview | Birthday, Family Feud, “Unspeakable Things” | | 24:54 | Trae Young Interview | NBA ambition, Quavo collab, “Ice Tray” alias |

In a Nutshell

A playful mix of political jabs, pop culture satire, and heartfelt, humor-filled guest interviews. Standout comedic moments (“No FaceTime, no Zoom, no corn maze...” for Trump’s Kim Jong Un chase), star stories from Liam Hemsworth’s celeb-packed behind-the-scenes, and Leanne Morgan’s Southern charm, all topped by NBA star Trae Young’s crossover energy. The episode is high on laughs, quick-witted exchanges, and warm “late night” camaraderie.