A Finger Up Maya Rudolph’s Nose Won Late Night This Week

by

Okay, let me tell you, it’s just a bit disheartening that George Santos got a sentence commutation from Trump right when Jimmy Kimmel was off the air. Honestly, Nelson Franklin nailed his impression of Santos during all that coverage – that was my favorite. It was good to see Jon Lovitz back on The Tonight Show, though. But where’s Harvey Guillén? I’m hoping Nelson Franklin pops up on Kimmel next week – we can’t let that comedic talent fade away! Oh, and Jimmy’s back on Cameo, apparently. The legal system has decided it’s okay to poke fun at him again, so fire away!

Late-night TV also collided with internet culture when Jimmy Fallon and Malala Yousafzai recreated a popular TikTok dance trend on The Tonight Show. One commenter joked it felt like watching a real-life episode of 30 Rock or The Other Two. While the image of Jimmy Fallon and Malala Yousafzai performing a Nicki Minaj song does seem bizarre, it’s also strangely perfect. That’s the point of late-night shows – to offer delightfully odd pairings and entertainment that blurs the line between reality and dreams as you wind down for the night. It’s meant to be so surreal you question what’s real. Here’s a look at who else embraced the trend this week.

5.
Stephen Colbert’s Innovations in Semiotics

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=jkpEbRIExO4

Now there’s a clear way to show when something is satire – a large sign with poop emojis. Stephen Colbert on The Late Show highlighted the irony of Republicans criticizing his show (and late-night comedy in general) while also supporting Trump’s right to create AI videos depicting him throwing waste at protestors. It’s always been difficult to find consistent logic from the Trump administration, so it’s good to see some humor injected into the situation – especially while a creative team still exists to make it happen.

4.
Allison Janney Re-Earns her Oscar on WWHL

Allison Janney and Keri Russell, who starred together in The Diplomat, playfully recreated a memorable and dramatic scene from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. The Clubhouse Playhouse segment is known for being a tough test for actors, challenging them to match the over-the-top emotional intensity of the Housewives. Janney and Russell perfectly nailed the infamous “gout dick sucker” argument, much to the delight of Andy Cohen, who was clearly thrilled watching them.

3.
A Classic “Back in Black”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=YFJx0zFxNAk

The trend of adding protein to every food seems pointless, and it feels particularly silly in a way that reminds you of the 1990s. Lewis Black’s joke about protein-infused Doritos perfectly captured the kind of complaints common among Generation X – the same type of grumbling Denis Leary used to do on MTV when the channel actually played music. It was a prime example of a comedian simply complaining about silly food, and Jim Gaffigan would do well to acknowledge Lewis Black as a pioneer of that style.

2.
Jay Jurden’s Zoomer Bashing/Praising

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=gGjJvAh4yLA&pp=ygUXamF5IGp1cmRlbiB0b25pZ2h0IHNob3c%3D

If you’re looking for a comedian who delivers genuine, well-crafted punchlines, Jay Jurden is your guy. He’s ideal for a quick five-minute set on a show like The Tonight Show. This time, he nailed a really funny joke about Gen Z – something a lot of comedians struggle with. We’ve all seen how badly movies portray teen texting, but Jurden’s observation about Gen Z’s constant use of personal video was spot-on. [Heart hands emoji]

1.
Intimacy Among Performers on Late Night

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=NtIBmvpzCNU

Paula Pell’s recent late-night character was a guaranteed hit. She played Trisha Bumrock, a grumpy bird expert, dressed similarly to how she looked when she worked at Disney World. The character was frustrated with actors – like Maya Rudolph – pretending to be experts in fields they haven’t dedicated their lives to. Rudolph and Pell’s Bumrock faced off in a hilarious “bird-off” on Late Night With Seth Meyers. Bumrock clearly won, but not before playfully sticking her finger up Rudolph’s nose! It was wonderful to see the deep connection Rudolph and Pell have built over years of working together. A particularly funny moment was when Pell hesitated to wipe fake boogers on Rudolph’s dress, likely a rental.

Read More

2025-10-24 18:01