"I just keep my head down": Jimmy Fallon on avoiding political jokes after Kimmel-Trump beef

Jimmy Fallon is keeping his distance from politics on The Tonight Show. In a new interview, Fallon explained why his late-night program will not focus heavily on political topics, even as other hosts face controversy.

Fallon was asked about his approach after Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension from ABC drew attention. Kimmel’s show was pulled after he made a remark about Charlie Kirk in a monologue that upset network affiliates and raised pressure from political figures.

Fallon said his show has a different approach. He wants to keep the focus on comedy and entertainment for everyone. He explained that The Tonight Show has followed a similar style for years, and that he does not plan to change it.

Jimmy Fallon on keeping The Tonight Show light

Jimmy Fallon spoke on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street about how he runs his late-night program.

He said, “Our show has never really been that political, you know. We hit both sides equally, and we try to make everybody laugh, and that’s really the way our show works.”

He added that the show’s structure has not shifted from earlier times.

“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.”

Jimmy Fallon also gave credit to his writing team.

“I have great writers… clever, smart writers. And we’re just trying to make the best show we possibly can and entertain everybody.” He said his focus remains on humor, not politics.

Read More: "I lost the vote": Jimmy Kimmel details how he found out show being cancelled

Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension and Trump’s reaction

The backdrop to Fallon’s comments was Jimmy Kimmel’s short suspension from Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC. Affiliates pushed back after Kimmel made a comment about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Soon after, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr warned Disney of possible retaliation.

Donald Trump has often been a vocal critic of Kimmel. He even suggested that ABC and Disney could face legal action for allowing Kimmel on air, claiming violations of campaign finance laws. Trump has also criticized Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, calling them “total losers” and stating that their ratings were poor.

Even with the suspension, Kimmel’s return to late-night drew strong viewership. His comeback episode had more than six million viewers, though some affiliates, including Nextar and Sinclair stations, preempted the show.

Read More: Nicole Kidman divorce filing with Keith Urban: Who will custody for children?

Trending

Jimmy Fallon has made it clear that he will continue to steer clear of in-depth political material on The Tonight Show. While other late-night hosts have leaned into politics, Fallon prefers to keep his program focused on humor and broad appeal. His goal is to keep the show in line with its long-running tradition and to steer clear of conflicts that have drawn attention to other hosts.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback