Trump Threatens Russia Over Ukraine War | Lucy Liu, Questlove, Debra DiGiovanni | Wednesday, January 22

Summary

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon - January 22, 2025

Episode Title: Trump Threatens Russia Over Ukraine War | Lucy Liu, Questlove, Debra DiGiovanni
Release Date: January 23, 2025
Host: Jimmy Fallon
Guests: Lucy Liu, Questlove, Debra DiGiovanni

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Opening Monologue [00:05 – 03:40]

Jimmy Fallon kicks off the episode from Studio 6B at Rockefeller Center, New York City, amidst a severe arctic blast affecting the entire country.

Key Highlights:

• Weather Jokes: Fallon humorously addresses the extreme cold, mentioning Florida receiving record snowfall, which is unusual for the typically warm state.

  Jimmy Fallon [00:28]:
  "It was so cold today, all the pardoned January 6th rioters stormed the Burlington Coat Factory."

• Questlove in Shorts: Questlove, known for his distinctive style, appears in shorts despite the freezing 8-degree weather in New York City, prompting playful teasing from Fallon.

  Questlove [02:33]:
  "Shorts I wear every day."

  Jimmy Fallon [02:34]:
  "Guys like myself, we're just more comfortable in shorts."

• Political Satire: Fallon delves into recent political news, notably President Trump's controversial decision to pardon January 6th rioters, sparking surprise among his allies.

  Jimmy Fallon [03:00]:
  "At this point, the only prisoner Trump hasn't released is Melania."

• Trump's Threats: He humorously comments on Trump's threats to impose sanctions on Russia and his bizarre claim about taking custody of Kim Jong Un.

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Guest Segment: Lucy Liu [12:31 – 17:30]

Introduction: Lucy Liu is introduced as the star of the new horror-thriller film "Presence," set to release nationwide on Friday.

Key Discussions:

White House Experience

• Meeting with President Biden: Lucy shares her unique experience introducing President Biden at the White House, bringing her nine-year-old son, Rocco, who impresses everyone with his charm and enthusiasm.

  Lucy Liu [13:02]:
  "They asked me to make a... I was like, you want me to do a speech? Are you sure?"

  Jimmy Fallon [13:22]:
  "They really thoughtful, right? Gosh, I love this kid."

SNL Sketch with Martin Short

• Behind the Scenes: Lucy discusses her cameo in a Saturday Night Live sketch with Martin Short, a violent and comedic retelling of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." The sketch was cut for time but later shared on YouTube.

  Lucy Liu [14:32]:
  "They just called me the day before... I got some childcare and was in."

Charlie’s Angels Reunion

• Potential Reunion: Jimmy asks if Lucy would consider reuniting with Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore for a new "Charlie’s Angels" movie. Lucy responds enthusiastically, expressing excitement about the possibility.

  Lucy Liu [17:13]:
  "I think people would love to see it."

Notable Quote:

Lucy Liu [17:22]:
"This is directed and shot by Steven Soderbergh. I mean, genius."

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Interactive Game: "What Would Lucy Do?" [17:30 – 23:35]

Jimmy Fallon engages Lucy Liu and the audience in a fun, interactive game to guess how Lucy would react in various scenarios.

Scenarios:

1. Greeting People:

   • Question: Does Lucy greet people with a high five or a fist bump?
   • Audience Prediction: High five
   • Outcome: Lucy affirms her preference for high fives when meeting strangers.

   Lucy Liu [20:44]:
   "Hey, what's up?"

2. Folding Pizza:

   • Question: As a New Yorker, does Lucy fold her pizza slice before taking a bite?
   • Audience Prediction: Fold
   • Outcome: Lucy confirms her habit of folding pizza slices, aligning with New York tradition.

   Lucy Liu [21:50]:
   "Okay, ready?"
   "You have to fold the pizza. That's what I'm talking about."

3. Rolling a Die:

   • Question: Does Lucy prefer rolling odd numbers (1, 3, 5) or even numbers (2, 4, 6)?
   • Audience Prediction: Odd numbers
   • Outcome: The audience correctly guesses Lucy's preference for odd numbers.

   Lucy Liu [22:35]:
   "What do you guys think?"

Notable Quote: Jimmy Fallon [23:17]:
"We all win. I save the best Lucy Liu, everybody."

---

Guest Segment: Questlove [23:35 – 34:17]

Introduction: Questlove, an Oscar-winning director, Grammy-winning artist, and best-selling author, discusses his latest documentary, "Ladies and Gentlemen, 50 Years of SNL Music," premiering on January 27th.

Key Discussions:

Documentary Insights

• SNL’s Musical Impact: Questlove explains how the documentary explores the profound influence of "Saturday Night Live" on various music genres and iconic performances.

  Questlove [24:45]:
  "It's a passion project."

• Process and Challenges: He shares the intensive process of watching over 900 episodes to curate the most impactful musical moments, highlighting the evolution from underground to mainstream acts.

  Debra DiGiovanni [26:37]:
  "Game changing is underselling it."

SNL’s Role in Music

• Launching Careers: Discussion on how SNL has been instrumental in propelling artists like Adele and Nirvana to fame, showcasing their performances to a vast audience.

  Debra DiGiovanni [28:12]:
  "Their lo-fi approach... they invented what we call now the viral video."

Emotional Connection

• Personal Reflections: Jimmy Fallon shares his emotional response to the documentary’s opening scene, emphasizing the documentary's depth and emotional resonance.

  Jimmy Fallon [26:04]:
  "I almost cried... The audience got to see it before the show."

Notable Quote: Questlove [25:10]:
"Lives, AKA The Burden of Black Genius."

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Guest Segment: Debra DiGiovanni [34:17 – 40:40]

Introduction: Debra DiGiovanni, a renowned stand-up comedian, shares her experiences and personal stories, particularly focusing on her journey with ADHD.

Key Highlights:

Stand-Up Performance on ADHD

• Personal Challenges: Debra humorously discusses her struggles with ADHD, including memory issues and difficulties with small talk.

  Debra DiGiovanni [38:57]:
  "I have ADHD. Anybody else? My people."

• CPAP Machine Jokes: She makes light of her use of a CPAP machine, poking fun at societal perceptions and her personal experiences.

  Debra DiGiovanni [39:10]:
  "A CPAP machine? It's a mask that fat people wear to bed so we don't die in our sleep."

Relatable Anecdotes

• Cat Sitting: Debra shares amusing stories about cat sitting, contrasting her night-time comedy with her daytime responsibilities.

  Debra DiGiovanni [39:50]:
  "I love to cat sit. We hang out, we watch TV, we talk about boys."

• Rehab Experience: She candidly talks about her time in rehab, highlighting the humorous side of waking up at 5:30 AM.

  Debra DiGiovanni [40:00]:
  "I went to rehab recently… I have an eating disorder."

Notable Quote: Debra DiGiovanni [40:40]:
"I have to learn a bane impression or a better reference than that."

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Closing Remarks [40:40 – 41:42]

Jimmy Fallon wraps up the episode by thanking his guests and promoting upcoming events. He emphasizes the importance of the show's diverse segments, blending humor with insightful conversations.

Notable Closing: Jimmy Fallon [41:40]:
"Thank you all for watching. Good night, everybody. Get some chips."

---

Conclusion

This episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon masterfully balances humor, political satire, and heartfelt conversations. Jimmy engages with his guests—Lucy Liu, Questlove, and Debra DiGiovanni—through a mix of interviews, interactive games, and stand-up performances, providing both entertainment and meaningful insights. Notable moments include discussions on Lucy Liu's new film and her SNL sketch, Questlove's comprehensive documentary on SNL's musical legacy, and Debra DiGiovanni's relatable stand-up on living with ADHD. The episode concludes on a high note, leaving the audience both entertained and informed.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Jimmy Fallon [00:28]:
  "It was so cold today, all the pardoned January 6th rioters stormed the Burlington Coat Factory."

• Questlove [02:33]:
  "Shorts I wear every day."

• Lucy Liu [17:13]:
  "I think people would love to see it."

• Lucy Liu [21:43]:
  "Okay, ready?"

• Debra DiGiovanni [38:57]:
  "I have ADHD. Anybody else? My people."

• Jimmy Fallon [41:40]:
  "Thank you all for watching. Good night, everybody. Get some chips."

---

This detailed summary encapsulates the essence of the episode, highlighting key discussions, humorous exchanges, and insightful moments that make The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon a staple in late-night television.

Transcript

[Jimmy Fallon]

From Studio 6B in Rockefeller center in the heart of New York City, it's.

[Questlove]

A Tonight show starring Jimmy Fallon.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Tonight joins Jimmy and his guest, Lucy Liu. Quest love comedian Jeffrey Diovan. And featuring Steve legendary Ruth Curry. 2083.

[Questlove]

And now, here he is.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Give me. Follow it. Thank you. Welcome my crowd. Welcome. Thank you very, very thank you. Enjoy yourself. Welcome, everybody. Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Tonight Show. Thank you for being here. Thank you for watching. Much like the hand warmers I have stuffed in my pants, I couldn't do this show without you. I really. Yeah. Guys, we're right in the middle of an arctic blast that is hitting the entire country. It is freezing out there. It was so cold today, all the pardoned January 6th rioters stormed the Burlington Coat Factory. Meanwhile, the south is getting a once in a lifetime winter storm that's dumping record levels of snow. Apparently it was so cold in Florida, the entire state shriveled up into Georgia. Yeah, Florida got several inches of snow. They actually have plows in Florida, but they usually save them for when everyone passes out in Miami during spring break. Yep. People in North Florida have never seen this much snow. While everyone in Miami is like, we have. This is nothing, man. Meanwhile, in Houston, there was actually a guy cross country skiing. Take a look at this. Wow. Yeah. The guy was like, see, honey, I told you it was worth keeping these skis in our house for 40 years. Meanwhile, today in New York City, it was just 8 degrees. And here to talk about it is the guy who even wears shorts in the winter. Thanks for joining us, sir. Thanks for having me, Jimmy. Yeah, well, today was 8 degrees and windy here in New York City, so I gotta ask, why are you still wearing shorts?

[Questlove]

Simple.

[Jimmy Fallon]

It's all about comfort, Jimmy. Guys like myself, we're just more comfortable in shorts. Okay, fair enough. But like I said, It's 8 degrees. I mean, aren't you cold? Nope, not cold at all. Perfectly comfortable. Hey, no pants, no problem. I'm sorry, did your shorts just get shorter? No, just me in the same winter.

[Questlove]

Shorts I wear every day.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Okay, well, anyway, I'm glad you're comfortable. Stay safe and try not to get frostbite out there. Don't worry about me, Jimmy. I'll be fine. Stay warm. All right, that's enough. The guy who wears shorts even in the winter. Everybody get him out of here. Yeah, get him out of here. Well, some political news. I read that President Trump's last minute decision to pardon nearly every January 6th rioter took a lot of his allies by surprise. They were like this isn't the thoughtful, measured Trump we remember from the first term. According to one advisor, Trump just said f it. Release them all. Yeah. At this point, the only prisoner Trump hasn't released is Melania. Wham.

[Questlove]

Dang.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Speaking of Trump and Melania, today they celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Yeah, that's fair. The traditional 20th anniversary gift is China. Or as Trump calls it, Gina, listen this. Trump has threatened to impose high levels of sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin doesn't end the war in Ukraine. Not only will Trump sanction Russia, he's also threatening to take full custody of Kim Jong Un. When Trump threatened him, Putin was like, ever since you started hanging out with Elon, you've, like, totally changed. You guys see this? The head of the TSA is stepping down after the Trump administration asked him to leave his post. Here now to tell us how he's feeling is former head of the tsa, Dave Pakoski. Welcome to the show, David. Yeah. Yeah, thanks, Jimmy.

[Lucy Liu]

Thank you.

[Jimmy Fallon]

I'm sorry to hear about the shakeup. Yeah, it's rough, Jimmy. I don't know who I am without this job. Hey, do you think you could do something for me? Sure. For old times sake, could you maybe just take off your shoes and place them in the bin? Okay. Excuse me.

[Questlove]

I'm sorry.

[Jimmy Fallon]

I guess I'm feeling a little sentimental. Hey, maybe if not your shoes, maybe you can take out your laptop. And, yes, a Nintendo Switch does count. I don't have a Nintendo Switch. I don't have any of that. I. Yeah, yeah. You're foolish of me, man. Your TV's Jimmy Fallon. You probably use Clear Right or TSA PreCheck. No. You really are taking this hard. Let me wand you. What? No. Come on, man. One swoop. You know, just the pitch. The navel, the crotch. Man, I need this. I think you might need some time alone to process everything that you've been through. Yeah. Yeah, I guess. Guess what I really need is a private screening of My Heart. Oh, boy. No, no, no. Don't worry about me. I'll be okay in time. I just gotta cry out these tears. Exactly. 3.4 ounces of tears. Not a drop more. All right, take care of yourself. The former head of the tsa, everyone. It doesn't feel the same. It doesn't feel the same. Scanning himself. Well, some TV news. Eight years after going off the air, Duck Dynasty is being revived on ae. Meanwhile, Gen Z is like, what? Is being revived on what? A spokesman for the network said, thanks to the January 6th pardons, we'll have at least 1,600 viewers. Well, I saw that. Netflix is raising prices again. The version without ads is going up by more than $2 a month. And they made the announcement in a video. Look at this. Commercialized. Netflix is proud to offer you great shows and movies now at a slightly adjusted rate. Our ad free tier is going from 1549 to 1799. And we'll keep serving up entertainment the whole family will love. Still watching? We hope so. Netflix. I get it. Anyway, hang on. I'm hearing that Netflix just released another video. Take a look at this. Hey, it's us again. Netflix is making another minor adjustment to our prices from 17.99 to $22.99. It's a small price to pay for incredible entertainment. And what are you gonna do? Switch to Paramount? Plus, we own you, you pathetic simp. Netflix. That's a little harsh. That's a little intense. Sorry, one second. I'm getting. Netflix has put out a third video. Oh, no. I'm sure this one's back to normal. Let's just watch together. Ding dong, it's us. Netflix is making one more teeny, tiny pricing tweak. Instead of $22.99, we're raising it to you have to win Squid game. That's right. We're doing a real life squid game. Look outside. There's a white van waiting to take you to a up island where you'll.

[Questlove]

Fight 400 other subscribers to the Cave.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Be honest. You'd rather kill a stranger than watch ads. Netflix. Yeah, that's just interesting choices. They're not wr. And finally today, a company released the world's first AI designed shoe that is 3D printed to fit your foot. Can we see it? Ooh. If you ask me what that is, I'm not even sure I'd guess. Shoe. We have a great show, everybody. Give it up for the Roots tonight. Come on now. I'm on design and find a rhino. Fightful time. I'm a step beyond I'm not behind line Separate golf with the vibe and a ticket as a crochet door as a 40 sign. Come on. I'm sending him what a show we have for you tonight. One of our she stars in the new horror Movie Presents which opens in theaters nationwide this Friday. Lucy Liu is here this evening. Presence. It's good. Steven Soderbergh. Yeah, it's like there's a presence in the house. Ooh, scary. Yeah, scary this weekend. Ooh. Plus he is an Oscar winning director.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

A.

[Jimmy Fallon]

I'm not sure if I Need a drum roll for? Oh, maybe he's an Oscar. Maybe. Let me say the second one then. Start the drum roll. He's an Oscar winning director, a Grammy winning artist and a best selling author. His new documentary, ladies and gentlemen, 50 Years of SNL Music, airs January 27th at 8pm on NBC and it is fantastic. Questlove is joining us. Ton. Wow. We're a guest in a drum. Yeah. I was really excited for that. Exciting. And we got great stand up tonight from Deborah DiGiovanni. Very funny. Very, very funny. Oh, yeah. God. I want to remind everybody, next Tuesday, next Tuesday, I'm on Broadway starting next Tuesday, January 28th through February 2nd. Me, A.D. bryant, Lin Manuel Miranda and Nick in this play for eight shows. So tickets are very available. You know what I thought? Did you guys see that President Biden left President Trump a letter in the Oval Office? It's a tradition to leave one. But Trump found the letter in a very interesting way. Check this out. President Trump, did President Biden leave you a letter? He may have. Wait, don't they leave it in the desk? I don't know. Oh, what's in there? Thank you, Peter. It could have been years before we found. Wow. Thank you. Isn't that amazing? It's incredible. Wait a second. Actually, I wonder if Biden ever left me a letter. Did he? Yeah, he's been on the show before. Let me take a look. Well, you've never opened up that drawer before. Oh, yeah. This could have been years. Oh, look at this.

[Questlove]

Oh.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Dear Jimmy, it's me, Joe. We are nothing without democracy, and these are trying times for our nation. But you're the medicine and the pain the tattoo inside my brain and baby, you know it's obvious I'm a sucker for you this is from Joe Jonas. Oh, Joe from Joe Jonas? Yeah, this is from Joe Jonas. He's been on the show, too. I love Joe Jonas. Thank you. Nice of him. Wait, are you kidding me? Another letter? I never opened it. This could. It's also to you. Yeah. Dear Jimmy, it's me, Joe. Oh, I believe in America. I really do. And what's more American than hot dogs? I can suck down 83 in 10 minutes. This is Joey Chestnut. Oh, okay. The competitive hot dog eater. He's talented. Yeah, he's never been on the show. That's odd that he would leave me a letter. Bill is eating hot dogs. He's talented. Yeah. One more. What? Are you kidding me?

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

I.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Why would I lie to you? It's a Wednesday night. Oh, my gosh. Who's it from? I. I don't know. Dear Jimmy. Oh, it's me, Joe. Oh, wow. A lot of people are wondering what's next for me, so I'll tell you. I'm gonna take off all my clothes and dance naked in Magic Mike 4. Joe Manganiello. He was on the show. Oh, wait. Sincerely, Joe Biden. Oh, my God. That's actually from the president. That's from the President. Thank you, Mr. President. Stick around. We'll be right back with Lucy Liu, everybody.

[Questlove]

Wow.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Our first guest is a very talented actress starring in the new film Presence, which opens in theaters nationwide this Friday. Please welcome Lucy Liu. We love you. Thanks so much for coming on. How's everyone? How's the fam? Everyone good?

[Lucy Liu]

Oh, my gosh. Nine year old.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Nine years old.

[Lucy Liu]

Come on. Spicy.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah. I just saw you posted this photo. You got to do a very cool thing. You got to introduce President Biden at the White House.

[Lucy Liu]

Yes.

[Jimmy Fallon]

And you brought it.

[Lucy Liu]

They asked me to make a. I was like, you want me to do a speech? Are you sure?

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, why not? That's great. But you brought Rocco with you.

[Lucy Liu]

I know. I didn't bring him. I was like, should I bring him? Should I, you know, not bring him?

[Jimmy Fallon]

Oh, my gosh. He's adorable. Took him out of school in the Rose Garden. Yeah.

[Lucy Liu]

He was, like, practicing his handshake, shining his shoes.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Oh, no, he's too cute. How was. How was the president with the. Rockwell.

[Lucy Liu]

He was so, so sweet. And you know what? They gave him, like, a care package. And I don't know if, you know, President Biden has, like, snacks.

[Jimmy Fallon]

No.

[Lucy Liu]

Right around the corner from the Oval Office.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Really?

[Lucy Liu]

Yeah. And the man loves cookies.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Really?

[Lucy Liu]

Yeah. Oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip. And it has, like, the presidential seal on each of them on the cookies.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah.

[Lucy Liu]

So it was like.

[Jimmy Fallon]

And Rockwell got that.

[Lucy Liu]

Yes. And like, Hershey's Kisses. It was so cute.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Is he the most popular kid in school? The next day, he brought all this.

[Lucy Liu]

Stuff back in, and he's like, nobody can have the cookies.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Look at the magical seal.

[Lucy Liu]

And then they also gave him a little, like, they have a cat named Willow, And Willow, they made him into a little puzzle. So you can put the puzzle together. It's so cute.

[Jimmy Fallon]

They. Really thoughtful, right? Gosh, I love this kid. I held him when he was a baby.

[Lucy Liu]

I know. The kids used to play under the Stairwell, remember?

[Jimmy Fallon]

Of course.

[Lucy Liu]

I love it under the Stairwell.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Nine years old already. Oh, my gosh. Oh, I also want to tell you, you did a great job you did a cameo in a sketch with Martin Short on Saturday Night Live. That was. It got cut for time, but SNL put it on YouTube. It's super funny. It's a retelling of Dr. Seuss, how the Grinch Stole Christmas.

[Lucy Liu]

Slash O Ran Kill Bill. Yeah, a little bit.

[Jimmy Fallon]

It gets very violent. Yes. Martin Short is the Grinch. He ends up killing almost all the. Who's in Hoover. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then you play Cindy Lou who's sister.

[Lucy Liu]

Yeah. Lucy Lou who. Yeah, original.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, it was great. I want to show a little bit of the sketch. Let's take a look at Lucy Liu. Cindy Lou who may be small and.

[Lucy Liu]

Sweet, but not my sister, Lucy Lou who?

[Jimmy Fallon]

Lucy, sweetie, it was a simple action.

[Lucy Liu]

I better carve some Grinch instead.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Please. It's Christmas.

[Lucy Liu]

And you all a good night.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Come on. That's so funny.

[Lucy Liu]

Classic.

[Jimmy Fallon]

How do they. How did they get you to do that?

[Lucy Liu]

They just called me the day before, which is better. I think I'm better with impromptu. I want to do this. And I was like, this sounds kind of interesting. And they just figured it out. I got some childcare and was in.

[Questlove]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Somebody watched Rocky.

[Lucy Liu]

Shot it in, like, three hours.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, it was because, like, you're in the holiday spirit because you're just in the Santa movie with the rock.

[Lucy Liu]

Oh, yeah, yeah. We did Red One.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Red One was so much fun. It was great. Congrats on that, by the way.

[Lucy Liu]

Just. Thank you. It did really well. And it was such a. It was such a fun project to work on. I mean, the idea that Chris Evans. No big deal.

[Jimmy Fallon]

No big deal.

[Lucy Liu]

Dwayne Johnson.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Dwayne Johnson. No big deal. Yeah. Yeah. Is it tough doing stunts around those guys, or. I mean, you know how to do this.

[Lucy Liu]

You know what I think? Well, Chris plays somebody who doesn't know how to do anything except gamble. You know what I mean? So he was, like, pretending that he can't really fight, which made me look good.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Oh, no. You know what I mean? Yeah. I think you know what you're doing, though, man. It was just like riding a bike.

[Lucy Liu]

Well, you know, actually, they told me that I wasn't going to be doing any stunts. And then, like, I was like, are you sure? Are you positive? Cause I can start training now. They're like, no, absolutely nothing.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Oh, great.

[Lucy Liu]

Like, maybe you'll, like, throw a punch at the most.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah.

[Lucy Liu]

You know, and then I got to the set, and then they showed me this previs. And it was this huge action scene with, like, weapons and all these guys coming at me. And I was like, you're on wires.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah. I was literally like, wait a minute.

[Lucy Liu]

This is not what we discussed.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, you crushed me.

[Lucy Liu]

But, yeah, you know what? It was like muscle memory. So I was lucky.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah. You know, I can't believe this. It's been 25 years since you did the first Charlie's Angels.

[Lucy Liu]

Oh, my gosh.

[Jimmy Fallon]

25 years. That didn't seem right.

[Lucy Liu]

It feels like it was yesterday.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah. If they ever wanted to get you and Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore back together, would you do it?

[Lucy Liu]

I mean, why not? I mean, it'd be so much fun, right? You know what I mean? Like, just get us all back together and do some action.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Come on, Flip the hair. Yeah. I think people would love to see it. Knock on. Let's talk about presents. Oh, yeah.

[Lucy Liu]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Fallon]

This is directed and shot by Steven Soderbergh. I mean, genius.

[Lucy Liu]

Such a genius.

[Jimmy Fallon]

So he went around, he shot it as well. Like, why did he want it?

[Lucy Liu]

Like, he is so meticulous about what he wants, vision wise. And he's so collaborative. And also, I think that in this particular project, they didn't do coverage, so there was just one camera, which was him. So he's directing it. He's the cinematographer, he's the editor. He's the producer. I mean, he does all of it.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Has anyone done that? I mean, sure.

[Lucy Liu]

I mean, I don't think so, because I think even if somebody shot something on an iPhone, it's like, okay, I'm gonna cover you, and then I'm gonna cover me, and I'm gonna show the insert of the phone or something. But he doesn't do any of that. So the audience basically becomes that presence, that spirit in the. Well, the whole setup is that it's a family that moves into a house, and then they realize they're not alone. So there's like this energy in the house.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, I know. Yeah. Yeah. And who do you play?

[Lucy Liu]

I play Rebecca, who is the mom. And, you know, it's a little bit of a dysfunctional family.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, you do.

[Lucy Liu]

So it's a tough situation. It's a tough situation.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah. How would you describe it? Is it a horror film or.

[Lucy Liu]

You know, I think that they're putting it in the horror genre, but I found it to be more suspense thriller. Like, the tension, it's good. Kind of getting tighter and tighter as the movie goes on.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah. And it doesn't stop. Come on. That is brilliant. So fun. Lucy Liu, Everybody Presents opens in theaters this Friday. Lucy and I are doing something fun after the break. Stick around, everybody. Come on back. Welcome back. We're hanging out with Lucy Liu. Her new movie Presence opens this Friday. Lucy, we're about to play a fun game where we get to guess what you do in different situations. This time for what would Lou Do? What would Lou do? What would I do? What would I do? Here's how it works. We're going to present you with a scenario. Then we're all going to try and guess between two possible ways that you would react using these clickers. Okay, everyone has these in the crowd. I have them. The roots have them. Once we've voted, we're going to ask you, Lucy, and Lou, to show us what you would do. Every time we guess right, we get a point. Okay? If we get three points, everyone in the audience gets a free pint of our Ben and Jerry's tonight. Dough ice cream. That's what I'm talking about. So we want the win. We want the win here. Lucy, you ready for this? They're kind of odd questions. All right, here we go. Lucy, you're a very popular person. People love you. You probably have to greet a lot of people. When greeting someone, do you give them a high five or a fist bump? Grab your clickers. Press A if you think Lucy greets people with a high five, or B if she greets you with a fist bump. I know you. If I see you, we'd probably hug. All right, we'd probably hug. But then if I was a stranger, I think you would. I think you would high five. Hmm. Really? Would you fist bump? All right, audience, let's see what they. Let's see what the audience thought. Let's see results. All right, everyone says high five. All right, now we have to see what you would do. Lucy, I'm gonna act like I'm a stranger, okay? Hey, Lucy.

[Lucy Liu]

Hey, what's up?

[Jimmy Fallon]

Oh, yes. Yes. All right, we got one.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

All right, we got one.

[Jimmy Fallon]

This is great.

[Lucy Liu]

All right, they know me.

[Jimmy Fallon]

All right, they know you. We know you. Okay, here we go. We're very close to that ice cream. All right, Lucy, you're a New Yorker, okay? When you take the first bite of a pizza slice, do you fold it or not fold it? Now I'm gonna say, pizza not on a plate. So you're holding the pizza not on a plate. I think. I think. I think you fold it because I think you're folding the pizza. You're probably holding Rockwell's hand with the other hand. So you have one hand to do. You can't do both.

[Lucy Liu]

You need octopus arms.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, you need too many arms.

[Lucy Liu]

What do you do?

[Jimmy Fallon]

What do you do? I think you just. I think. I think you're folding. You fold the pizza.

[Lucy Liu]

What do you guys think?

[Jimmy Fallon]

All right, let's see the audience results. What do you think? Everyone says Lucy Liu folds her pizza. What do you think?

[Lucy Liu]

Okay, ready?

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah. Da, da, da, da, da, da. Oh, yeah, yeah. You have to write. You have to fold the pizza. That's what I'm talking about. That's a New Yorker. That's a New Yorker right there. Thank you, Lucy. Guys, we have two. That's big. All right. Thank you, bud. All right, here we go. It's time for scenario number three. Here. Lucy, I know you're a fan of games. Yes. When you roll a die, do you roll a 1, 3 or 5 or B, 2, 4, or a 6? Okay, mark your clickers. If you think Lucy Liu, when she rolls a die, it's a one, three or five. That's an A. If you think that she rolls a 2, 4, or a 6, B. I think.

[Lucy Liu]

What do you think?

[Jimmy Fallon]

I don't know. I don't know what I'm looking at. This giant die. 1, 3, 5 or 2, 4, 6. Ah, I'm gonna say 2, 4, 6. I think 2, 4, 6. I Think 2, 4, 6.

[Lucy Liu]

You think evens?

[Jimmy Fallon]

I think evens. Oh, that's interesting. I didn't even think odds are even.

[Lucy Liu]

Math major here.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yes. I'm gonna say 2, 4, 6. I'm gonna go with 2, 4, 6. All right, let's see what the audience voted. What will she roll? A 1, 3, 5. Yes. Or say 2, 4, 6. Lucy for the win. Everyone will go home with ice cream if you do this correctly. How do you roll a giant die?

[Lucy Liu]

All right, guys.

[Jimmy Fallon]

We all win. I save the best Lucy Liu, everybody. Her movie presence is in theaters this weekend. We'll be right back, everybody.

[Lucy Liu]

Come on.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yes. Out of the flames Like a phoenix Training Carry the weight of my brain Like a teenager. Our next guest is an Oscar winning director, a Grammy winning artist and a best selling author. He directed a new documentary called ladies and gentlemen, 50 Years of SNL Music which airs January 27th at 8:00pm on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock. Everyone, please welcome Questlove. Really? I love the band. You like the band? The band's so good quest. It's always fun when you are a guest. I do like having you as a guest. We've done a couple times. Before we get into the SNL documentary, I want to mention that you also directed Another documentary that's coming out February 13th on Hulu about Sly and the Family Stone.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Yes. Sly wrote the Alphabet to which, you know, every book that's written afterwards musically, is based on, like, he created the Alphabet. Pretty much, yeah. For pop music, for soul music. And we investigate a lot in this film.

[Jimmy Fallon]

And he's. You. Do you interview him or. We'll find that out.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

You'll find that out. But, yes, his voice is in the documentary.

[Jimmy Fallon]

What is the Name of the Sly.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Lives, AKA The Burden of Black Genius.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Wow.

[Questlove]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Congratulations. And that is premiering at Sundance tomorrow.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Tomorrow.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yes. Oh, my God. Crazy.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Yeah, man.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Congratulations. Thank you.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Thank you.

[Jimmy Fallon]

But now we have to talk about this SNL, ladies and gentlemen, 50 years of SNL music. It's on Monday night on NBC. You showed me the first six minutes of the doc in my office, and I think I almost. I think I cried. I think when you. After you left, I was so teared up because I was so emotional. Like, it's the greatest opening of any documentary. The audience got to see it before the show. Am I right? It is like I got goosebumps as it was happening. I got goosebumps. I go, oh, my gosh. How? Just how?

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Well, first of all, you know, shout out to our very own John McDonald, who is just an editing genius.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, he is brilliant.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

And you know my co director, oz Rodriguez from SNL.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Oz.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

It took about, honestly, 11 months. Like, Lauren put this in my lap maybe April of 2021, when, like, a year before the Oscars. So pretty much I had about two and a half years to watch all 900 plus episodes of SNL.

[Jimmy Fallon]

No, but you actually did, though, watch all 900 plus.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Well, initially, you know, the beginning, I think I was just gonna compile, like, maybe the 50 best performances on the show.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

But around 87, I realized there was way more iconic comedic moments musically on the show, like, surpassing just the legendary performances.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Like, even for you, like, I would say, like, your top three are all music related. First, you know, the Mick Jagger bit.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yep, yep. Mick.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

And then cowbell, of course.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

And then I would even say with Debbie Downer, like, the trombone.

[Jimmy Fallon]

That is. That is music. Yeah, yeah. Like, I was lucky to be in those sketches, man.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

But music plays a major part on that show. And most of the iconic sketches that people remember, be it King Tut or, you know, anything Eddie Murphy's done, Hot.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Tubs, James Brown, celebrity hot tub, the Lonely island stuff.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Like, it's all music related.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Dude, those guys are unbelievable. Lonely island guys. But I Mean, I just also love that they do such a great. I mean, they crush and change the whole game with Lazy Sunday. Yes. But then they did that and they go, yeah, we got another one. And then they do in a box. Okay. And then they got another one and just keep coming. You're like, oh, my gosh. They don't stop.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

I mean, their story. I mean, it's so like their lo fi approach.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

And I mean, they've invented what we call now the viral video. Like, yeah, Lazy Sunday was kind of established. YouTube people didn't know what YouTube was before lazy Sunday.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Correct.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

So, yeah, I mean, game changing is underselling it.

[Jimmy Fallon]

How far back do you go with snl? What do you first remember?

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

So this is weird. People that know me know that I have an obsession and a weird, unhealthy obsession with Soul Train.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Oh, my gosh. You definitely do, by the way. Yeah.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

And so.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Oh, my gosh. It's always on in your dress.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Oh, constantly. It's on right now.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, exactly.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

So the thing is that in most households, Soul Train was always a 12 in the afternoon experience.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yes.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

But for some reason in Philadelphia between 75 and maybe 1982, Soul Train was a 1am Experience. So I had parents that were cool enough that would wake me up. I'd have to be in bed at like 8:30 on a Saturday, but they wake me up at like 12:30 midnight.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

And SNL, the last half hour. SNL back in the 70s was usually when the two music songs come. So I remember like Billy Preston and like from 75 on, I just always watched. I was five, six.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, yeah, me too.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

My parents really wanted me to watch anything with music. And so as a result, most music circuit, like any music part of life in the 70s, usually came on after midnight. They just wake me up and watch it.

[Jimmy Fallon]

And then I want you to remind everyone with this documentary is the. The diversity of music. It's kind of an introduction to so much music. For me, being a kid from upstate New York, I never got to really leave the house or go listen to different bands. And, you know, I would like watch Saturday Night Live and be like, what did I just see?

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Yeah, I'll say. The first 10 years of SNL was more like everyone's secret, a subculture. And so a lot of these groups you never heard of. We never heard of Talking Heads or devo or the B52s or even Keith Jarrett. None of these, like, weird groups are like abstract jazz groups. For those first 10 years, they were just underground groups. And I feel like around the 20th year is when SNL became the mainstream instead of the underground. So thus, like your Nirvanas, your like those groups that are right on the precipice of greatness. And then I'll say for some acts, like Adele is a great example. Before Adele did her very first show, her album was like maybe like number 60 on Billboard. Yeah, she just happened to be at the right place at the right time when Tina Fey was doing the Sarah Palin bit and they were there together. So everybody was tuned in and Adele just happened to be on and instantly her album went from 60 to number one. So overnight, SNL is such a game changer.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah. And Nirvana, I think, wanted to say, like after they were on SNL, oh.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

They'D start selling six figures, like 100,000 a week.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, that was my first time seeing Nirvana going, same here again. What in the world was that? But then, so I'm watching this, it's so entertaining. It's got all those great musical performances. But also you've got Mick Jagger talking.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

About, I would say you two are twins. Like I am.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Mick would say that too, probably.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

No, but you know, I hear your version of how the Mick Jagger bit started, and every night to ask him the same question, he literally like, it's almost like he's doing you. There was one point where I actually was gonna simultaneously have you both tell the story at the same time on top of each other. Cause you literally mirrored each other like.

[Jimmy Fallon]

The exact same story. Yes, yes. It was a last minute thing. And I was like, I pitched him a zillion ideas. And Lorem was like, please don't do the reflection in the mirror a bit. Right? And I go, why? He's like, it's just been done. He's like, lucille Ball did it. The Marx Brothers. Just don't do it. I go, okay. So I went in to pitch these ideas to Mick Jagger. I'm nervous. And I go, I got, hi, Mick. And he's like, hello. And I go, you know, you want to do a bit where me and you work at a sunglass hut? You know, he's like, no, I don't like that. He's very nice, very nice. I don't like that. I go, well, how about you're both Keith Richards, he's cloned himself so that he can party with himself. He goes, yeah, nah, I really like that. And then, so I'm going through the list, I probably have 10 ideas. And last, he doesn't like anything. And then the last one I Go. Maybe it's like, you're back. You're in the dressing room, you're like, why am I doing this show? I've done it in the 70s and done it in the 80s and done what am I doing different now? And I'm your reflection. He goes, I like that. Nice.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

I will say that probably the subtext of the entire thing that I want people to get. Cause I'm always trying to figure out, like, how to get a message in there for creatives. Every story that we tell always starts with the fear. Like, you didn't want to go to Mick Jaggers, that you were nervous. Everything starts with a no. Like, Eddie Murphy tells the story of, like, not wanting to do hot tub. He thought it was dumb. Like, why would I be James Brown in a hot tub? But literally every bit starts with a no, and a risk factor comes in, and then it winds up being something historical and changes people's heads.

[Jimmy Fallon]

How'd you get Eddie to do it?

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Stalked him.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Did you really?

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

No. Rock hooked me up. And he's, you know, like, he's one of the. Probably the weirdest surprise of this whole thing is I didn't know that he's so adept to, like, texting culture.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Like, is he a good texter?

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

To this day, he sends me mad. You remember, like, Pee Wee Herman used to always send, like, gifs and everything? Memes.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yes.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Like, Eddie's beyond that. Like, he will send.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Eddie Murphy sends memes crazy YouTube stuff.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Like, way more than I text him.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Really?

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Yeah. And emojis. Like, oh, Eddie Murphy knows what emojis are.

[Jimmy Fallon]

He's the greatest. Dude. You did such a great job. And as a fan, I mean, it was my dream to be on Sirent Live. And as a fan of the show, I love everything. I memorized every single thing about the show. I loved it so much. You handled this with such care, and it's just a. It's a work of art. And as a fan of the show, I just want to say thank you so much.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Passion project.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Awesome job.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Thank you, Quest.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Love, everybody. Ladies and gentlemen, 50 Years of SNL Music premieres January 27th at 8pm on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock. We'll be right back with more tonight show. Stick around. Yeah. Hold it down. Yeah. What it is, what it is we up and dance what it is, what it is we up and come in with the Clan caravan and a band. Our next guest can be seen at the New York Comedy Club in Stamford, Connecticut, this Thursday and the East Village location in New York on Friday, making her Tonight show debut. Please welcome the very funny Debra digiovanni. Hey.

[Questlove]

Yes. Hello, everybody. I'm Deborah. It is so nice to be here. And I'm gonna start right off the top. I have adhd. Anybody else? My people. My people. Okay, so this is my book. All right? I have no memory. I have adhd. And I used to do a lot of drugs. Do you understand? No memory. I have to use my book. I have no idea what I'm gonna say. Let's find out together. All right? Okay. So, yeah, I found out that I have ADHD a couple years ago. And apparently, according to my doctor, every doctor that I've ever had has been trying to tell me that I have adhd, but I was not paying attention. I was not. I was busy stealing stuff. Gentlemen. He started talking about my brain. I'm like, is that Q tips? Hello. So, yeah, so, no, I got it right? And comedians, what we do is we write about the truth. I have adhd. I'm gonna write about it. And I will, just as soon as I find the right pen. It could take years. It could take years. I love school supplies. Oh, I love it. Paper and pens, markers. Oh, a sticker. I love it. I love stationery. I love stationery. And I don't mean just standing still. Although I love that, too. I love that, too. Watch this. I know, it was good. It was good. I pulled my back. I did just pull my back. But we're fine. It's okay. So now that I have adhd, I realize everyone else has adhd. My boyfriend has adhd. And, yes, I have a boyfriend. Surprise. Yeah. Yeah, some of you lost the bet, but anyway, I'm an earthy woman, but I'll say this, but we have. Our neurodivergence is very different from each other. Like, I have the thing where I think everyone's mad at me every five minutes. So I'm like, are you mad at me? And my boyfriend is talking to a bird. Do you understand? We're not gonna make it. We're struggling is what I'm telling you. But, hey, another thing I can't do. I have no small talk. I can't do small talk. No capacity for it. I wanna go deep. Do you know what I mean? I wanna know you. I wanna cry. Like, I am the worst at parties, okay? People are like, hi, how are you? I'm like, my mother never protected me. Also, very true, actually. Very true. And, you know, now that I look at this, I realize this is not my joke book. This is my journal. So that is weird. I should not be reading this. You know, it just says mum written in blood, so it's not my blood, though, so we're fine. Anyway, so here's something. I got a CPAP machine. Do you know what that is? A CPAP machine? It's a mask that fat people wear to bed so we don't die in our sleep. And I should have been using one for a long time, but I was embarrassed. They're weird. And at the time, I was single, so I was like, you know what? I don't want to get one. I'm going to get guys going to think it's weird. Like, is that what I should be concerned with, that they think it's weird? I think I should be more concerned if they're into it. Do you know what I'm saying? They're all like, get the mask. I'm like, oh, no, I gotta change my personality. You know what I mean? I gotta learn a bane impression or a better reference than that. I'll tell you that much. I can't do it. I can't do it. And listen, it's usually, you know, at this point of the show, you'll start looking at me thinking, this woman has a cat. And I do not. I do not have a cat. All right? I'm actually in between cats right now. If you know anyone, let me know. But I'll tell you, I love to cat sit. I love to cat sit. I don't do anything during the day, so me and the cats, we hang out, we have fun, we watch tv, we talk about boys. It is a good time. But then I do comedy at night and I worry about the cat.

[Jimmy Fallon]

I leave the cat.

[Questlove]

I'm like, are they okay with help me? Are they scared? What are they doing? And then I started to think, what if the cats are also doing comedy at home? Do you know what I mean? What if when I leave the house, the cat's all, what's the deal with all the crying? Do you know what I mean? They know me. They know me too well, to be honest. Too well, you know, I have to ask you a question. Be honest with me. Okay, guys, so how lazy was this Susan? You know what I'm talking about? Like, how lazy you gotta be. How lazy you gotta be to have a piece of furniture named after you. Do you understand? Was she awake? Is she alive? Can we give Susie a nudge? Is my message all right? Now, listen, I'm gonna do something serious here. I can be serious for a Moment, everyone. I went to rehab recently. Go with me. I have an eating disorder. I went to rehab. Let's move on, okay? But here's the thing. It was lovely. I thought it was wonderful. The only thing that was weird is that every morning I had to wake up at 5:30 in the morning. 5:30. I'm like, I'm not addicted to sleeping in. What's going on here? I asked the woman to charge. I'm like, why are we getting up at 5:30? This is what she said to me. She's like, we're just trying to get you ready for your new life. Am I a farmer in my new life? 5:30. Let me tell you, you get me up at 5:30. All you're doing, giving me more time to eat. Do you understand? 5:30. If I. Excuse me. If I get up at 5:30, I gotta have double breakfast. You know what I'm talking about? And I got. It's the second one. It'll get you. All right, that's it for me, everyone.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Thank you so much.

[Questlove]

I'm Deborah DiGiovanni.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Am I a farmer? Deborah DiGiovanni. See Deborah at the New York Comedy Club in Stamford, Connecticut, this Thursday and the East Village location on Friday. We'll be right back, everybody. My thanks to Lucy Liu Quest. Love, Deborah DiGiovani.

[Deborah DiGiovanni]

Right here.

[Jimmy Fallon]

And by the way, dude, the ADHD stuff is real.

[Questlove]

It's real.

[Jimmy Fallon]

This is your entire set right here. You had it in your hand, the whole. That's every joke. It was so good.

[Questlove]

And then at the bottom, it just says chips at the bottom.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, why not? Yeah, get some chips. Thank you all for watching. Good night, everybody. Get some chips. Get some chips. Get that. Get involved. Get into it. Do it. Get on up. And you're San New York City. Just to let you know, brother. That's. That's right. Tonight, start the show hard working Mr. Dynamite. Work, work, work, work, work, work, work. Yeah, baby. Thanks for listening to the Tonight show starring Jimmy Fallon. Don't forget to subscribe to get the latest episodes. Weekday morning, get your podcasts, Watch the Tonight show starring Jimmy Fallon. Weeknights on NBC and streaming on Peacock.