Last Night on Late Night

Josh Johnson jokes about Mitch McConnell’s return to Congress and examines AI researchers’ warnings about potentially catastrophic risks. He questions both Trump’s reassuring response and whether tech executives’ calls for a slowdown reflect safety concerns or pressure to deliver financial returns.

Jimmy Kimmel jokes about Donald Trump appearing to fall asleep at public events, Mitch McConnell’s return, and Trump’s response to AI safety warnings. He also discusses reporting on Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding celebrations and checks in with Guillermo after his Dancing with the Stars debut.

Seth Meyers mocks MAGA outrage over the casting and box-office success of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, then targets Elon Musk’s plan for an AI-generated adaptation. He turns to the continuing Iran war, criticizing Donald Trump’s lack of a clear endgame and highlighting Jon Ossoff’s repeated questioning of Pete Hegseth.

Danielle Brooks discusses If I Go Will They Miss Me, in which she plays a mother navigating her son’s idealized view of his father. She reflects on filming in Watts with the local community and how motherhood shapes her approach to acting.

Helen Mirren discusses returning to MobLand and portraying Patricia Highsmith in A Talent for Murder, demonstrating her character’s menacing Irish accent. She also describes her involvement in an effort to save ancient olive trees in Italy.

Stephen Colbert reflects on life after The Late Show and celebrates its Emmy wins while discussing writing a new Lord of the Rings film with his son. He shaves off his beard and presents Jimmy Kimmel with his longtime Captain America shield.

Rosie O’Donnell promotes her one-woman show Common Knowledge, tracing it to memories of losing her mother, raising five children and facts supplied by her youngest child. She describes moving to Ireland after reading Project 2025, being teased for drinking Smithwicks and finding family resemblances there. She also recalls how volunteering for Penny Marshall expanded her role in A League of Their Own.

Alan Cumming discusses returning as Nightcrawler in Avengers: Doomsday and hosting ordinary contestants on The Traitors: New Blood. He recalls the physical demands of superhero stunt work and jokes that his boxing coach thinks he could beat Drake in a fight.

James Norton promotes House of the Dragon and recalls nearly fainted after repeatedly working himself into a fury to smash a table as Ormund Hightower. He also discusses his misophonia, falling asleep in full armor on his first day and casting his father as a background actor in several projects.

Jake Shane discusses bringing Therapuss to Netflix and revisits the Tumblr movie reviews he wrote as a child, including one for a film he never watched. He also introduces his Katjes candy collaboration and gets surprised with a cardboard cutout of himself.