Jimmy Fallon Plans to 'Keep My Head Down' and Avoid Politics on 'The Tonight Show': 'We Hit Both Sides Equally'

[highplainsdem]

Source: Variety

Jimmy Fallon plans to keep “The Tonight Show” out of politics.

During a recent interview with CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street,” the late-night frontman said his show has “never really been political,” and he plans to keep it that way.

“We hit both sides equally, and we try to make everybody laugh, and that’s really the way our show works,” Fallon said. “Our monologues are kind of the same that we’ve been doing since Johnny Carson was hosting ‘The Tonight Show.’ So really, I just keep my head down and make sure the jokes are funny.”

“I have great writers,” he added. “And we’re just trying to make the best show we possibly can and entertain everybody.”

-snip-

Read more: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/jimmy-fallon-avoid-politics-tonight-show-1236535575/

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Jimmy "Keep The Wannabe Dictator Happy" Fallon.

[wcmagumba]

1. I have never cared for Fallon so I continue not watching his widdle show...

[Deuxcents]

2. He can keep trying to be funny but I still won't watch him

[crimycarny]

6. Same here

I’ve never found Jimmy Fallon funny. He isn’t awful, just always seemed—-I dunno—more juvenile jokes versus wit?

When Kimmel was temporarily suspended one of my first thoughts was “Fallon will be the only one of all the late night shows to try and weasel out of defending Kimmel as well as bend over not to make any jokes that might put him at risk with execs”.

I have even more reason not to watch him now.

[LudwigPastorius]

3. What a little weasel.

[Cha]

33. Right?

Hope he Loses Viewers by being a fucking weasel.

It's either Patriotism or Fascism, weasel.. Traitor is Killing People.. you okay with that, Fallon?

[elleng]

4. 'Both sides' are not a problem.

Fortunately I don't watch 'late night' shows.

[BaronChocula]

8. I stopped watching after Letterman retired

Last edited Wed Oct 1, 2025, 03:28 AM - Edit history (1)

As he matured he became quite sensible about politics and wasn't afraid to honor the honorable while mocking who deserved to be mocked.

[karin_sj]

5. Coward

[JohnnyRingo]

7. Nobody's forcing him to. That's how free speech works.

I usually watch his monologue before switching to local news and Colbert. He made a couple Trump jokes tonight then some inane skit involving members of congress. He started sing some stupid song and I flipped the channel.

He doesn't have to get politics to be mediocre. He's been doing it fine all along

[soldierant]

10. Well said. Especially the last sentence,

Yeah - he stated rubbing me the wrong way when he was with Ben Stein and I've never recovered.

[BaronChocula]

9. Fail-On was appropriately missing from this pic taken earlier

[Cha]

34. TY, I saw that last night on our Liberal youtubes

forum. It's heartwarming!

Last night Jimmy Kimmel called Traitor a SOB.. only he said the all the words right out Loud.. it was Glorious.

[BaronChocula]

35. Haven't watched regular late night since Letterman reitred

But I totally appreciate Jimmy Kimmel's growth into someone who cares. He used to cohost that ridiculous Man Show on Comedy Central which struck me as totally infantile - a show strictly devoted to male appetites and impulses. Wikipedia calls it a lampoon. I call it a celebration.

Anyway, I'm glad Kimmel is the man he is now.

[Cha]

36. Yes, many People Evolve..

some don't.

I'm thankful I did.

[BaronChocula]

37. I'm thankful too!

[spudspud]

11. "Tonight, on Profiles in Courage..."

[BidenRocks]

12. Fallon: And when they came for me...

[Roy Rolling]

13. He speaks the truth

It’s a comedy show—there’s no benefit for him to publicly say otherwise. Virtue signaling should be done in his private life, unlike MAGA performers.

He can skewer Trump mercilessly if he wants from his show. I’m not a regular viewer but I find the show funny and his politics genuine. He shouldn’t declare his allegiance to antifa on-air and risk exposing the whole secret operation.

[CentralMass]

14. Spineless.

[Buddyzbuddy]

15. Big shock.

I've never watched a full episode since he's been there for no particular reason other than I don't find him to be funny.
Leno was better, but he was still no comparison to Mr. Carson, IMHO. I watch old Carson episodes but that's it.

[Americanme]

16. Both sides do not deserve to be hit equally.

Fallon is lukewarm, as is his humor. One side is a huge, harmful, dangerous, bad joke. The other side is occasionally ridiculous.

[SamKnause]

17. You can't hit both sides equally when both sides are not equal.

Jimmy you are the wrong side of this issue.

[dem4decades]

18. The least funny of the late night crew says he's bland, and a coward

Sounds right to me.

[Javaman]

19. what? Fallon being weak knee'd? I find that hard to believe.

he's always been like this.

way to take a stand their jimmy.

and I love his "both sides" comment.

[Bengus81]

20. What did he say on HIS show when Kimmel was fired? "No one really knows what's going on here"

Uh I fucking did Failon...he got FIRED for speaking out against a fascist dictator! Your a pussy failon and now kissing Trumps ring so your big ass check still arrives weekly.

Fuck you and your show,I won't be watching.

[Clouds Passing]

21. You're not that cool, fallon

[hamsterjill]

22. Sounds like capitulation to me.

n/t

[robleb]

23. Don't like him; Don't watch his show

Stay in your hole Fallon.

[BidenRocks]

24. Just try to touch chump's dead ferret today.

You were a tool and a fool!

[ificandream]

25. Fallon is no Johnny Carson.

I have not been a fan of Fallon's. His jokes aren't knee slappers. His comments after the suspension of Kimmel showed how weak he is. I saw two live tapings of The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson hosted by Carson. (We saw a third that was guested hosted by George Carlin, who we both loved back then and saw live a couple of times.) While Carson tried to stay centered, he also knew how to hit politicians with sharp points on occasion. Fallen doesn't.

True story: This happened both times we saw the Carson tapings. You remember how Johnny used to swing an imaginary golf club as he went into the commercial after his monologue? Once the monitors in the studio went black and it wasn't going out on air, Carson would say, in his most inimitable and exaggerated Carson tone "Oooooooooooooooooh shit!" The audience screamed in surprise each time we heard it. I'll never forget that.

[MontanaMama]

26. Fallon had an opportunity to speak out

for Jimmy Kimmel and wimped out. He said he “didn’t know what was happening.” Really? Weak. Lame.

[Traildogbob]

27. Both sides equally!

Says it all. I do not like his goofy style. Childish as hell and what a poor sport when he does all the little competition things.
But I am old, young folks may like him just fine.
“Now that’s the way you do it”!
Like he tells every artist.
He does have good varieties of musical guest.
Seth, Kimmel and Stephen will take the pig on none stop. And do damn good job without his weak stuff.

[delisen]

28. Foxhole Fallon keeps head down while Battle for Democracy rages.

What a coward.

[ImNotGod]

29. Lapdog comedian and never someone I would watch. nt

[Solly Mack]

30. Damn

[johnp3907]

31. I'm glad I couldn't pick him out of a lineup.

🤮

[Euphoria]

32. No surprise.

Whatever I've seen him do is imitative and void of content. And, he's always been a kiss-ass. Since 2nd grade.

[Jack Valentino]

38. Guess I won't be watching HIM...

we get enough "both sides" from the rest of the MSM.

[travelingthrulife]

39. Gross. Although I have never seen the appeal of this guy.

[tonekat]

40. He's always been too impressed with his guests

He gets starstruck, and has lame interactions with the guests. I like Colbert, Kimmel and Meyers.