Top 10 Funniest Late Night Talk Show Moments
#10: Rihanna Pranks Jimmy Kimmel
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (2003-)
Jimmy Kimmel is known to be quite the prankster, and loves a good April Fool’s joke. Little did he know, however, that one particular pop star was a big fan of his practical jokes….and wanted a piece of the action. So, with the help of Jimmy’s wife, Molly, Rihanna turned the prank-er into the prank-ee with a very showbiz wake-up call. There’s nothing funnier than Jimmy’s dazed and confused reaction as he gradually takes it all in. This kicked off a series of surprise celebrity visits to the Kimmels’ bedroom but as the first, it was most definitely the funniest.
#9: Jimmy Fallon Missed His Shot With Nicole Kidman
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (2014-)
In an interview that he will never live down, Jimmy learns that his memory of the first time he and Nicole Kidman met is starkly different from hers. There’s nothing funnier than Jimmy’s reaction as the truth dawns on him and he gets so flustered that he can barely steer the interview back on track. At least Seth handles things a bit better when he learns that JLaw planned to ask him out when they worked together on SNL. In both situations, it’s clearly awkward for everyone involved, but for the rest of us watching, these interviews are nothing short of hilarious.
#8: Miriam Margolyes Has No Idea Who the Other Guests Are
“The Graham Norton Show” (2007-)
You can never quite predict what might happen when Miriam Margolyes is around, but you know you will certainly be entertained. During a previous visit to Graham’s sofa, she confessed to not knowing Will.I.Am, who was sitting beside her. So this time, Graham puts her celebrity knowledge to the test once more and well, you can imagine how well that goes. Not only is she pretty much unfamiliar with the other guests, but what she does seem to know about Dominic Cooper is hardly complimentary, either. Whether it’s intentional or not, Miriam never fails to leave us in stitches.
#7: Lobby Baby
“Late Night with Seth Meyers” (2014-)
Clearly not wanting to be outshined by his big brother’s eventful birth story, Seth and Alexi’s second-born was like, “hold my milk”. So, it’s hilarious when Seth recounts the most unbelievable story of how his wife was forced to give birth to their son on the floor of their building’s lobby. It’s a story made for a comedian, particularly when he recounts his phone call to 911 at the time. It’s almost like little Axel Meyers inherited his father’s flair for entertaining. Fortunately, it’s a very happy story and the way Seth tells it will have you laughing the whole way through.
#6: Stephen Colbert’s Tolkien Parody
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (2015-)
Did you know that Stephen Colbert had a cameo in “The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug”? Well, when he visited New Zealand, he met with the franchise’s director Peter Jackson to discuss a potential spin-off franchise for his character, Laketown Spy. The story centers around Darrylgorn, Aragorn’s slightly hotter twin brother, and his adventures with Swordy McSwordface. He’s joined by his trusty, yet confused sidekick, played by Jackson, who keeps interjecting with references to other popular franchises. We even get reluctant cameos from Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen, although Elijah Wood seems more enthusiastic. This really is fan fiction at its finest.
#5: Tom Hanks Has a Whale of a Time
“Conan” (2010-)
Bay Area resident Tom Hanks claims to have done his fair share of whale-watching in his time. But it seems like perhaps his closest encounter with the mammal was when he stopped by “Conan.” As the pair admire the animated whale backdrop behind them, one lunges out of the water, making a pretty huge splash as it dives back down. Well, that prank splash certainly carries some magnitude, as the water engulfs Mr. Hanks... but not Conan. Hanks good-humouredly plays along with the bit, and adds his own touch by throwing his mug of water into his own face too.
#4: Kevin Hart vs. Animal Guests
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (2014-)
Poor Kevin Hart, he’s simply not an animal guy but, at least he sticks around to make this animal segment even more entertaining. He simply can’t get far enough away from the animals, and he’s incredibly reluctant to partake in the segment. Although, standing at a safe distance, he has no issue messing with Jimmy when he holds a tarantula. Somehow Jimmy manages to convince Kevin to take part in the Falcon trick despite his very obvious terror. Well, he might be absolutely terrified, but there is barely a moment throughout this segment that doesn’t have us laughing out loud.
#3: Matt vs. Jimmy
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (2003-)
If you can’t remember how this feud began, let us bring you up to speed. Jimmy made an impromptu joke one night about bumping Matt Damon from the show. This turned into a recurring gag which eventually caught Damon’s attention. From there, one of the most hilarious ginned-up celebrity squabbles of all time took off. We saw Matt hijack Jimmy’s show, and Jimmy try to get Damon replaced in “Bourne Ultimatum”. They even got other celebrities involved too, including Kimmel’s then-girlfriend, Sarah Silverman. We’re thankful that their attempts at couples’ counseling failed, because this is one feud we hope doesn’t end anytime soon.
#2: Tom Holland Describes Dancing for Madonna
“The Graham Norton Show” (2007-)
When Tom Holland popped by “The Graham Norton Show,” he shared an anecdote about his awkward encounter with Madonna. While attending an Oscars afterparty, an old friend introduced him to the pop star, and chose to break the ice by telling her about Tom’s dancing skills. For Tom, this apparently meant that he now had to prove himself, and the results sound hilariously cringy. The reactions to this story are equally funny, particularly Graham’s, who slaps his knee in amusement. Just as you think the story has peaked, Tom recalls sharing this anecdote with his family, making us laugh all over again.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Ariana Grande & James Corden Go to Starbucks
“The Late Late Show with James Corden” (2015-)
Tom Holland Drops Spoilers
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (2003-)
Craig Ferguson and Peter Capaldi Reminisce
“The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (2005-15)
Seth and Rihanna Go Day Drinking
“Late Night with Seth Meyers” (2014-)
Shaq Lifts Up Kevin Hart
“The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (1992-2014)
#1: “Ew!” With Channing Tatum
“Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” (2014-)
Jimmy has been joined by so many great guests for this hilarious reoccurring sketch, with Channing Tatum making a particularly memorable appearance. He’s just as committed to the sketch as Jimmy, not only nailing the part but also staying in character the entire time. He even channels his “Magic Mike” and “Step Up” days to bust out some interesting moves. Although apparently, Susie isn’t really a fan of “Magic Mike.” Also, can someone explain to us how despite his costume, he’s still so attractive? We get to see a totally new side to the actor and it’s hilarious.