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Gutfeld makes rare NBC appearance on Tonight Show

Fox News host Greg Gutfeld appeared on NBC's Tonight Show, a rare cross-network moment that kept politics light.

August 8, 2025 at 05:03 AM
blur Greg Gutfeld Hugs Jimmy Fallon in Late-Night Crossover

Editorial look at Greg Gutfeld's rare Tonight Show appearance and what it reveals about cross-network dialogue in late-night culture.

Gutfeld Makes Rare NBC Appearance on Tonight Show

Greg Gutfeld walked onto NBC's Tonight Show for the first time on Thursday, sitting with Jimmy Fallon for a roughly 10-minute segment that featured a warm hug and a personal story about meeting Fallon years ago in Hell's Kitchen. The conversation stayed mostly light, with Gutfeld recounting career detours and joking about how his mother helped him break into Fox News, while Fallon teased the reality of a game show crossover on Fox Nation. The moment also included a plug for What Did I Miss, a Fox Nation premise that asks contestants to decide if headlines are real or fake.

Fallon peppered the exchange with light humor about Trump, signaling that this Tonight Show installment leaned away from heavy politics even as it acknowledged the broader media conversation around the former president. The segment sat against a backdrop of ongoing ratings chatter in late-night, where Gutfeld’s program has repeatedly highlighted its audience numbers in comparison with broadcast rivals, despite airing in an earlier time slot. The episode also featured musical guests Jonas Brothers and Good Charlotte, underscoring the show’s blend of politics, pop culture, and entertainment.

Key Takeaways

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A rare cross-network moment without a heavy political agenda
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A softening of tone to appeal to a wider, mixed audience
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Gutfeld uses the platform to promote Fox Nation and a reality-based game show
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Fallon maintains a light, non-political approach on air
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Cable vs broadcast competition remains fierce and increasingly public
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Crossovers reflect broader strategy in late-night entertainment

"They didn't just cancel the show. They canceled the whole show."

Gutfeld on Colbert's cancellation and media shifts.

"Imagine being a chef you are such a bad chef that they cancel food."

Gutfeld's jab at how media decisions are made.

"You would not even have to sequester people."

Fallon on the game show's premise.

"The only places Trump did not tariff are North Korea and Epstein Island."

Fallon's political joke during the monologue.

This crossover signals a shifting boundary in late-night culture, where cable voices step onto broadcast stages to widen their reach without becoming political platforms. The hug and personal anecdotes humanize a politically charged figure, suggesting networks may be testing how far cross-pollination can go before politics intrudes on a lighter tone. The episode reflects a broader tension: audiences crave a familiar voice, but sponsors and partners seek content that avoids polarizing controversy. The contrast with Colbert and other hosts illustrates how competition for viewers now includes more cross-network gambits and more strategic brand collaborations rather than pure political discourse.

Highlights

  • They didn't just cancel the show. They canceled the whole show.
  • Imagine being a chef you are such a bad chef that they cancel food.
  • You would not even have to sequester people.
  • The biggest crossover since the Harlem Globetrotters visited the Golden Girls.

Political sensitivity in cross-network appearance

The appearance pairs a conservative figure with a mainstream network, raising the potential for political backlash, advertiser concerns, and public reaction across audiences. The interaction tests editorial boundaries and could influence future cross-network collaborations.

Cross-network moments push late-night toward a more integrated media landscape.

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