The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Episode: Trump Pushes Greenland Takeover | Ben Affleck & Matt Damon, Grace Van Patten
Date: January 14, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of The Tonight Show is full of energy and humor, with Jimmy Fallon at the helm riffing on everything from Trump’s Greenland ambitions to pop culture slip-ups. The spotlight is on Oscar-winning actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who join to discuss their new Netflix film, "The Rip." Grace Van Patten also appears, sharing stories from her career and her show "Tell Me Lies." Engaging banter, hilarious personal anecdotes, and even a chaotic game involving a shocking hot potato device make this episode a memorable one.

Key Discussion Points

1. Monologue Highlights & Pop Culture Riffs (01:02–06:03)

• Trump and Greenland:
  Jimmy makes jokes about Trump’s ongoing Greenland takeover aspirations, quipping, “Trump is still talking about taking over Greenland, and he said that if we invaded, their only defense would be two dog sleds.” (01:32)

• Award Season & Movie Title Mix-Ups:
  Jimmy confuses “Hamlet” with “Hamnet,” leading to friendly corrections from Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and a string of humorous apologies in song and rhyme.

  • Notable quote:
    • Ben Affleck: “It’s just… it’s not Hamlet. It’s Hamnet with an n.” (02:28)
    • Matt Damon: “Yeah. We all make mistakes.” (03:04)

• Streaming Wars & Podcasts:
  Jimmy pokes fun at Netflix’s foray into video podcasts, leading to a parody promo that spirals into a meta joke about consuming multimedia on multiple platforms.

  • Notable bit:
    • Netflix Rep: “Then we’ll take a video of someone listening to that audio and release it as the surprise ninth episode of Stranger Things.” (05:20)

2. Ben Affleck & Matt Damon: Friendship & Movie Talk (07:13–18:30)

A. The Rip – New Netflix Release

• Jimmy introduces “The Rip,” a new crime thriller starring and produced by Affleck and Damon, and directed by Joe Carnahan. The plot involves a police tactical team discovering $20 million in a Miami house and the moral/ethical dilemmas that ensue.
  • Ben Affleck: "They raid these houses, they seize money … and this is based on something that really did happen..." (14:25)
  • Matt Damon: “It’s about what happens with temptation, how people turn on each other and not knowing who you can trust.” (16:08)
  • The movie uses real police officers as extras for authenticity. (16:34)

B. Behind the Scenes — Affleck & Damon Anecdotes

• Sneaker Scandal & Fitness:
  Joking headlines about Ben Affleck “quitting” sneakers and Matt Damon’s workout regimen for “The Odyssey.” (07:38–08:32)

  • Matt Damon: “A guy gets in shape once and I quit wearing sneakers. How about still in shape, quits wearing sneakers?” (08:25)

• Christopher Nolan Collaboration:
  Damon describes visiting the set of Nolan’s "Odyssey" film, the grueling filmmaking process, and bringing his children to watch, highlighting Nolan’s seriousness and the epic scale of filming. (09:02–10:39)

  • Matt Damon: "I was deeply grateful to see you… We were the only guests in six months of shooting." (10:06)

• Acorn Incident:
  The duo reminisces about a fight where Affleck accidentally hit Damon in the eye with an acorn while filming “School Ties,” sending Damon to the hospital.

  • Matt Damon: "Yes, it was our biggest fight." (11:09)
  • Ben Affleck: "My first thought was, I gotta be fired for this." (11:50)

• Courtside Basketball Mishaps:
  Damon shares a story about an NBA player falling into him and Mark Wahlberg at a Lakers game and Phil Jackson colorfully telling them to “sit down and shut the [expletive] up” during a playoff.

  • Damon: “Phil Jackson jumped, called a timeout and turned and literally said… sit down and shut the– up to me and Mark.” (13:47)

C. Artist Equity – Their Production Company (17:14–18:29)

• Damon explains how their company’s profit-sharing model extends to crew members, adapting traditional film bonuses for the streaming era.
  • Matt Damon: “It also includes, you know, 1200 crew members, you know, every, you know, painter, standby, painter, greensman, camera, woman, whatever.” (18:09)
  • Jimmy Fallon: “So the more you guys watch this movie… crew members make—would make a lot of money.” (18:11–18:29)

3. Grace Van Patten: Career, Jackass Inspiration, & Tell Me Lies (19:00–25:18)

A. Early Acting & Jackass Fandom

• Grace began acting at age 8 and attributes much of her childhood inspiration to watching “Jackass,” especially Steve-O.
  • Grace: “I did love Jackass growing up. You guys like Jackass?… Steve O was my guy… I don’t know what came first, my obsession with the show or my massive crush on Steve O…” (19:39–19:54)
  • She laughs about organizing “extreme” stunts on the playground as a kid. (20:18–20:46)

B. Tell Me Lies on Hulu

• Grace discusses “Tell Me Lies” Season 3, her real-life relationship with co-star Jackson White, and how the show's drama spills over into public reactions.
  • Grace: “We’re awful to each other on the show, but it’s so much fun.” (21:12)
  • “People have screamed, get away from him or get away from her.” (21:39)
  • She teases the new season is “absolutely chaotic” and apologizes to viewers in advance. (21:50-22:02)

C. Shocking Hot Potato Game

• Grace brings a game that shocks whoever is holding it at the end; she and Jimmy play, agreeing whoever gets shocked must answer a truth or dare.
  • Hilarity ensues as both express genuine fear of being shocked. (22:11–24:48)
  • Notable confession:
    • Jimmy reveals he once stole Jerry Seinfeld’s toothbrush from the “Seinfeld” finale set:
      • Jimmy Fallon: “I went to the finale of Seinfeld… I went to Jerry’s bathroom and I stole a toothbrush.” (24:58)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Jimmy Fallon on Trump’s Greenland plan:
  “They go together like President Trump and invading a country with no plan. You know what I’m saying?” (01:32)

• Matt Damon and Ben Affleck on mistakes:
  Ben: “It’s okay. We all make mistakes. Let me cheer you up.” (03:52)
  Matt: “We all make mistakes.” (03:04)

• Classic banter after pop culture mix-ups:
  Jimmy: “I am such a fool. I messed up yet again. I am so disgraced. When will this torture end?” (03:30)

• Onset visits & filmmaking with Christopher Nolan:
  Matt Damon: “It was absolutely the, the pinnacle of my entire career. I loved every minute of it.” (09:04)

• On crew profit-sharing/Artist Equity:
  Matt Damon: “It also includes, you know, 1200 crew members… that if they’re committed to making the movie good, it’s very likely to be better.” (18:09)

• Grace Van Patten on stunts and Jackass:
  Grace: “I liked making kids do stunts, and I would call it extreme…” (20:18)

• Jimmy on stealing at the Seinfeld finale:
  “I went to Jerry’s bathroom and I stole a toothbrush.” (24:58)

Segment Timestamps

• Monologue & Current Events: 01:02–06:03
• Affleck & Damon Interview: 07:13–18:30
  • Film talk, anecdotes: 07:24–16:56
  • Production company: 17:14–18:29
• Grace Van Patten Interview: 19:00–25:18
  • Childhood/Jackass: 19:26–20:55
  • “Tell Me Lies”: 21:04–22:02
  • Shocking game & confessions: 22:11–25:18

Tone & Style

• The episode is fast-paced, self-effacing, and filled with playful teasing, pop culture references, and authentic camaraderie.
• Jimmy’s approachable, slightly zany host style sets a relaxed and humorous atmosphere for both guests and viewers.
• Affleck and Damon’s friendship translates into a warm, lively conversation, blending industry insights with personal stories.
• Grace Van Patten brings candidness and youthful humor, especially in her anecdotes about Jackass and playing risky games on air.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode delivers everything The Tonight Show promises: big stars, genuine laughs, behind-the-scenes Hollywood tales, and interactive fun. From Affleck and Damon’s thoughtful discussion on the evolving film industry to Grace Van Patten’s childhood mischief inspired by “Jackass,” you get a comedic, entertaining, and sometimes touching look at life behind the fame. The playful spirit is capped by a shock-laden game that provides a memorable on-air confession from Jimmy Fallon himself. Whether you’re here for celebrity stories, movie scoops, or just need a laugh, this episode is both rich and fun.