The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Episode Title: Trump’s Ballroom Construction Noise Is Upsetting Melania | Noah Schnapp, Gwen Stefani, Amanda Gorman
Airdate: December 4, 2025
Podcast Host: Jimmy Fallon
Notable Guests: Noah Schnapp, Gwen Stefani, Amanda Gorman

Overview

This lively episode of The Tonight Show blends Jimmy Fallon's trademark humor with exciting interviews, pop culture updates, and festive energy. The show kicks off with topical jokes, pivots to an in-depth conversation with Noah Schnapp about the final season of Stranger Things, then welcomes Gwen Stefani to discuss her new music and holiday traditions, and rounds out with poet Amanda Gorman celebrating her new UNICEF ambassadorship and current film work. The episode is marked by energetic banter, personal anecdotes, and feel-good moments characteristic of Fallon's late-night approach.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Jimmy’s Monologue: Holiday Season & Political Jabs

00:14–05:12

• Holiday Spirit: Jimmy riffs on the crowded Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting, joking, “Special time of year when every mall Santa wakes up from hibernation.” (02:01)
• Political Humor:
  • Jokes about President Trump’s new ballroom construction:

    "It must be really loud because she [Melania] lives 200 miles away." (03:09)
    “Melania is so mad about the construction, she stopped speaking to Trump nine years ago.” (03:24)

  • Pete Hegseth’s Cabinet name card misspelling and the defunct Department of Education referenced with:

    “This is what happens when you dismantle the Department of Education.” (04:05)

• Consumer News: Playful mockery of shipping deadlines and food recalls, e.g.,

  “The Postal Service deadline is last Easter.” (04:21)
  “Customers knew something was wrong when they could grate the cheese with their cheese.” (04:54)

2. Noah Schnapp on Stranger Things Final Season

05:34–16:40

The Impact of Stranger Things

• Show stats: Volume 1 of Season 5 “crashed Netflix,” debuted with 60 million streams, and is #1 in 90 countries (06:12–06:27).
• Noah balances fame and college, likening himself to Hannah Montana:

  "My friends always call me Hannah Montana because I also go to school in the middle of this. I'm a senior in college, actually." (06:39)

Celebrity Mix-ups

• Noah shares getting mistaken for "Harry Potter":

  "It's funny because ... they'll come up to me and they'll be like, I love your show ... and then they're like, I adore Harry Potter. And I'm like, oh, wrong franchise." (07:18–07:44)

Behind-the-Scenes Season 5 Stories

• Directing young “Will” in flashbacks and working with the Duffer Brothers:

  “For the first time, I got to kind of step into the director’s shoes ... The Duffers were very willing to let me work.” (08:54–09:09)

• On preparing his younger lookalike:

  “The eyes are everything with Will … I was trying to explain to him, the big eyes.” (09:22)

Shocking Plot Twist & Emotional Scenes

• Jimmy’s spoiler warning, urged by Noah:

  "If you haven't seen Volume one yet, maybe pause this ... because we have to talk." (08:08–08:31)

• The big reveal: Will has powers!

  “I burst out of the shower, half naked, and I’m like, ‘Brooke! Brooke, read that last page!’” (11:04–11:44)

• On acting intensity:

  “I was screaming so much that day that I actually popped all the blood vessels in my face and my body ... This happens to women in labor!” (12:51–13:27)

Creating Will’s Powers

• Crafting Will’s signature move:

  “It was originally supposed to just be this, but eventually, we learn that it comes differently ... I wanted to make sure that it’s showing him siphoning this energy out of him.” (14:18–14:24)

• Collaboration with creators:

  “They will put full trust in all of us. And it’s so special … I’ve dreamed of having something like this.” (15:02)

Notable Quotes

• Jimmy to Noah: “You made me so nervous. It was unbelievable. But also, by the way, your acting was crusher, buddy.” (12:29)
• Noah: “Like, I had the same reaction as a fan of the show.” (11:56)
• Noah on Will’s iconic performance: “I would channel animals ... pound on my chest and make myself feel like a 6,000-pound gorilla.” (15:33–15:57)

3. Gwen Stefani: New Music, Family Traditions, and Sphere Comeback

16:58–25:13

Gifts and Gardening

• Gwen brings Jimmy a purple iris from her Oklahoma property:

  “I actually had this overnighted from Oklahoma ... because I heard that you got into gardening.” (17:30–17:38)
  “When we discovered these during COVID ... someone 100 years ago planted them, and they just were, like, glowing in the sun.” (17:57)

No Doubt Reunion & The Sphere

• Discussion of the band’s return at the Las Vegas Sphere:

  “The Sphere is like the future ... It’s kind of a cross between a concert and a movie. And it instantly sold out.” (19:30–19:55)

• Six more shows added due to high demand.

Holiday Music & Traditions

• New song “Shake the Snow Globe” for Amazon Music and a holiday film starring Dennis Leary and Michelle Pfeiffer:

  “They asked me to actually write this song for the film. … Maybe I could score a movie.” (21:16)

• Gwen’s quirky family tradition: timpano dome (circular pizza-pasta dish):

  “It's called a timpano dome. Have you heard of this?...We found it in a movie that Blake found.” (23:10–23:25)

• Jimmy and Gwen taste the timpano dome on air.
• On Christmas togetherness:

  “Now, it's a tradition—everyone wants it.” (24:04)

4. Amanda Gorman: Voice Acting, UNICEF, and Future Goals

25:37–31:45

Zootopia 2 Voice Role

• Amanda lends her voice to Deidre Bambino in the hit movie:

  “So absolutely. It has nothing to do with my talent. Everything to do with stalking. … I think they were just like, we are going crazy. We need to give her what she wants.” (26:24–26:54)

From Presidential Poet to Animated Performer

• Amanda reflects on the difference:

  “When I'm doing, like, poeting I'm very ... gravitas. ... When you're doing a Disney film, you just have to go so big and, like, be a character.” (27:11–27:14)

Surprising Pastimes and Persona

• Admits her love of Love Island:

  "People expect me to be watching Shakespeare in my free time. Love Island is Shakespeare... What’s more intellectual than that?" (28:22–28:49)

Presidential Ambitions

• Amanda confirms her intention to run for president:

  "Oh, absolutely. 100%." (29:20)

UNICEF Ambassadorship

• Discussing her new role:

  “I remember trick or treating with UNICEF when I was a kid ... If I’m ever an adult and I have a platform, I would love to pay it forward back to this organization.” (30:57–31:04)

• On the honor:

  “To be able to speak with and on behalf of children around the world, it’s just the highlight of my career. That and being here with you.” (31:04–31:18)

Notable Quotes

• Jimmy to Amanda: "You have a beautiful speaking voice. You most famously recited a poem at the President Biden's inauguration when you were just 22." (26:56–27:06)
• Amanda on Love Island: "A new bombshell has entered the villa. What’s more intellectual than that?" (28:22–28:49)

Memorable Moments & Quotes with Timestamps

• Melania living "200 miles away" from Trump's construction noise. (03:09)
• Noah Schnapp celebrates Will’s on-screen powers: “Oh my God, I have power! ... Like, jumping around the apartment.” (11:44–11:55)
• Noah after an emotionally intense scene:

  “I was screaming so much that day that I actually popped all the blood vessels in my face and my body.” (12:51–13:27)

• Jimmy on Gwen’s Sphere show:

  “Twelve shows sold out instantly. So you had to add six more days!” (19:55)

• Amanda Gorman’s presidential hashtag:

  “It’ll be commandainchief. Get it, get it, get it.” (29:29)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Monologue: 01:03–05:12
• Noah Schnapp Interview: 05:34–16:40
• Gwen Stefani Interview: 16:58–25:13
• Amanda Gorman Interview: 25:37–31:45

Tone and Style

The episode is upbeat, self-deprecating, and warm, with spontaneous laughter and witty banter—classic Jimmy Fallon. The guests are candid and lively, sharing personal and hilarious behind-the-scenes stories, embracing Fallon's improvisational humor and genuine enthusiasm.

For Listeners

If you missed the episode, this recap brings you the best comedy, heartfelt conversation, and pop culture highlights of The Tonight Show. From viral TV surprises to family traditions and dreams of a better world, the spirit of the holidays and hopefulness shines throughout this star-studded episode.