Last Night on Late Night

Jimmy Fallon covers Republican anxiety over the midterms, Donald Trump’s suggestion that Iran could attack California cities, and his call to arrest reporters over rally coverage. He also jokes about a possible Jeff Bezos presidential campaign, record Halloween spending and a Spirit Halloween parody set at the Kennedy Center.

Jimmy Kimmel condemns Donald Trump’s remark that Iran could take out Los Angeles and San Diego, contrasting conservative outrage over Kimmel’s jokes with defenses of Trump’s comments. He also checks in on Guillermo and Witney Carson’s Dancing with the Stars run after joking about California gas prices and Robert De Niro’s voting-rights speech.

Seth Meyers conducts a Surprise Inspection of rejected jokes submitted by his monologue writers, showing each writer’s photo after jokes about airline mishaps, Ray Charles, New Jersey hair and Trump’s SpaceX investment. The segment culminates with jokes about an adults-only aquarium event and a deliberately terrible starfish punchline.

Michael Kosta covers vulnerable Republican midterm candidates, mocking Vivek Ramaswamy’s awkward attempt to lift a child and a Ken Paxton ad whose wording suggests the opposite of its intended anti-trafficking message. He then examines Donald Trump’s push for permanent Daylight Saving Time and his publication of Senator Tom Cotton’s phone number.

John Cena promotes Matchbox: The Movie, an Apple TV action film built around childhood nostalgia and friendship, and describes trusting director Sam Hargrave enough to perform a helicopter stunt despite his fear of heights. He also surprises Jimmy Fallon with a custom WWE championship belt marking Cena’s 17th Tonight Show appearance and 17 WWE titles.

Kerry Washington promotes the thriller Animals, opening in theaters and on Netflix, along with new episodes of her podcast Street You Grew Up On and the return of Reasonable Doubt. She also recalls clubbing until 3 a.m. as research for Save the Last Dance and explains why she is rooting for both Julia Stiles and Guillermo on Dancing with the Stars.

Sebastian Stan promotes Fjord, a drama about a Romanian immigrant family in Norway whose children are removed amid abuse allegations, and explains how becoming a parent shaped his response to its questions about family and tradition. He also recalls sleeping in Times Square before a failed American Idol audition and shaving his head two days after the Oscars for the role.

Aaron Sorkin promotes The Social Reckoning, explaining how the film follows Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen and examines the platform’s evolution from connection tool to rage-amplifying algorithm. He also announces a Broadway revival of A Few Good Men and recalls breaking his nose while physically acting out a Newsroom scene during his writing process.

Emma D’Arcy promotes Digger, praising its dense ideas and distinctive visual language while recalling an audition conducted under tight security. They also revisit the homemade hairpiece used for their House of the Dragon audition and quiz Jimmy Fallon on High Valyrian vocabulary after explaining how they learn the language.

Kyle MacLachlan discusses his memoir Fictional Selves, reflecting on how his early film roles shaped his career. He recalls landing Dune at 23, learning Police songs from Sting on set, deepening his acting approach through Laura Dern, and receiving sympathetic encouragement from New Yorkers after his Sex and the City role.

Jane Wickline discusses beginning her third season at SNL and the embarrassing discovery that her public Quizlet of staff names dominated coworkers’ Google results. She also recounts twice forgetting to set up the piano during her auditions, then describes self-producing the musical comedy Dukes and finally obtaining its long-imagined crystal goose prop.

Sam Smith promotes the album Hazel Eyes, explaining how moving from London to New York and finding a happy relationship shaped its softer, soul-oriented sound. They joke that the title should have been Hazelnut Eyes after misunderstanding the eye color, discuss reconnecting with fans through intimate residencies and introduce the song Oh Mother with The TwoCity Choir Chorus.

George Saunders discusses the Metropolitan Opera adaptation of Lincoln in the Bardo, describing Missy Mazzoli’s music, the enormous cast, pyrotechnics and a live horse named Zeus. He also recalls how reading Johnny Tremain in third grade transformed his inner language and explains fiction’s power to create patience and connection between people.

Meredith Hayden explains that Wishbone Kitchen grew from her private chef business and the roast-chicken wishbone tradition she shared with her mother. She promotes the Wishbone Kitchen cookbook and Netflix show, then begins an evening-long bit preparing cookbook recipes tailored to The Tonight Show’s guests.

Sam Smith and The TwoCity Chorus perform “Oh Mother” from the album Hazel Eyes on The Tonight Show.