Donald Trump Is Giving Late Night TV A Nervous Breakdown
Wednesday night’s talk shows grappled with the new reality of Donald Trump as the presumptive Republican nominee with equal parts amazement, ridicule, and fear. And, in the case of Jimmy Fallon, another lousy Trump impersonation.
Thank goodness one of his guests was Fran Lebowitz.
The humorist was brought on after one of Fallon’s patented Tonight Show stunts — beer pong played with Jeremy Renner. Lebowitz was asked why she wouldn’t take part in such a pleasant game. “Because I’m an adult,” she said with brisk coldness. Jimmy, of course, took the insult the way he takes everything: with a hysterical laugh. Turning to the subject of Trump, Lebowitz gave the audience the wisdom of a career New Yorker: “In New York City, even other real estate developers don’t take him seriously… People say they don’t want a real politician — has anyone ever called you and said, ‘I have a terrible leak in my apartment; do you know anyone who’s not a plumber?”
Meanwhile, over on The Late Show, Stephen Colbert was imploring God Himself to explain the persistence of Trump as a winner.
As the campaign proceeds, more and more people on talk shows are choking on their earlier jokes as the seriousness of it all kicks in.
The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on NBC.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs weeknights at 11:35 on CBS.
