Late-night host Jimmy Fallon says his program is meant to entertain, not to divide, and he has no plans to change that.
During an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street this week, the Tonight Show host said his monologues are designed to reach a wide audience.
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“Our show’s never really been that political,” Fallon said. “We hit both sides equally, and we try to make everybody laugh. That’s really the way our show works. The monologues are the same style they’ve been since Johnny Carson was hosting The Tonight Show.”
Watch: Jimmy Fallon gets visibly uncomfortable when asked about the partisan optics of his show:
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) September 30, 2025
“Our show’s never really been that political. We hit both sides equally… and uh, we try to make everybody laugh.”
They know their propaganda machine is nearing its end. pic.twitter.com/ZwecA4cuiH
Fallon added that he focuses on the basics of comedy: “I just keep my head down and make sure the jokes are funny. I have great writers — clever, smart writers — and we’re just trying to put on the best show we can and entertain everybody.”
Fallon’s reference to Carson echoes the legendary host’s own belief that political commentary did not belong at the center of late-night. Carson once warned that entertainers risked self-importance if they treated their platforms as political pulpits.
“Why do they think that just because you have a Tonight Show that you must deal in serious issues? It’s a danger. Once you start that, you start to get that self-important feeling that what you say has great import,” Carson said. “You could sway people. And I don’t think you should as an entertainer.”
This is why Johnny Carson is THE iconic late-night talk show host:
— Laura Powell (@LauraPowellEsq) September 18, 2025
“Why do they think that just because you have a Tonight Show that you must deal in serious issues? It’s a danger. It’s a real danger. Once you start that, you start to get that self-important feeling that what… pic.twitter.com/GQDg26eFrL
Fallon’s comments come amid renewed scrutiny of political comedy, following Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension from ABC last month after remarks about the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel was reinstated days later, but faced criticism for declining to apologize on his return broadcast.
Unlike Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, or Seth Meyers, Fallon has largely avoided framing his show around politics. He has argued since 2017 that it would feel unnatural for him to suddenly pivot into heavy political material.
That approach has sometimes worked in Fallon’s favor.
In August, his program drew its largest audience in nearly two years when Fox News host Greg Gutfeld appeared alongside the Jonas Brothers and Good Charlotte. The episode pulled in 1.7 million viewers, Nielsen reported, and the Gutfeld segment became the show’s top YouTube clip of the week.
Fans online praised Fallon after his CNBC interview, contrasting his style with other hosts.
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One user wrote that Fallon was “better than the others,” pointing out that he was willing to host Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign. While Fallon has taken heat from critics for that decision, supporters argue it shows his commitment to treating all guests with respect.
For Fallon, the goal remains straightforward: “We’re just trying to make the best possible show we can and entertain everybody.”