Greg Gutfeld Gives Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Tonight Show’ Biggest Ratings of 2025

In a rare late-night crossover moment, Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld brought an audience surge to NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon — and the numbers are turning heads across the TV industry.

The Night That Changed the Ratings Game

On what could have been a routine Monday night in late-night television, The Tonight Show hosted Greg Gutfeld, the outspoken host of Fox News’ Gutfeld! and a frequent lightning rod in political and entertainment circles.

Gutfeld joined Fallon in the iconic Studio 6B at 30 Rockefeller Plaza — just blocks away from Fox News Media’s headquarters in Midtown Manhattan.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode drew a whopping 1.7 million viewers. That number marks the highest-rated Tonight Show broadcast of 2025 so far, and a staggering 57% jump from the show’s year-to-date average of 1.1 million viewers.

Why Gutfeld’s Appearance Was a Big Deal

Greg Gutfeld’s success on Fox News has been nothing short of remarkable. His late-night show, Gutfeld!, has consistently topped ratings charts, often outperforming long-standing network fixtures. But Gutfeld rarely appears outside the Fox News ecosystem, making his guest spot on NBC a notable event.

The appearance symbolized not just a cross-network moment, but a collision of two very different late-night styles: Fallon’s lighthearted, celebrity-driven comedy and Gutfeld’s politically charged, often provocative humor.

That unusual mix appears to have attracted viewers from both worlds — regular Tonight Show fans curious about Gutfeld, and Gutfeld’s Fox audience tuning in to see how he’d fare in NBC territory.

Fallon Keeps It Playful

Despite their differing styles, Fallon kept the interview fun and free-flowing, steering clear of partisan debates while allowing Gutfeld room to showcase his humor. The two traded banter about their first meeting years ago in an underground Hell’s Kitchen bar — a story Gutfeld has famously told about the time Fallon grabbed a cigarette from his mouth and stomped it out, telling him, “Those things will kill you!”

The conversation was peppered with light jokes, mutual ribbing, and anecdotes that gave audiences a glimpse of a softer, less combative side of the Fox host.

The Jonas Brothers Factor

While Gutfeld was clearly the ratings driver, he wasn’t the only notable guest that night. The Jonas Brothers also appeared, performing their latest single and chatting with Fallon about their current tour.

Industry insiders note that while the band likely brought in some additional viewers — especially younger fans — the sharp jump in viewership is largely attributed to Gutfeld’s drawing power.

Online Buzz Amplifies the Impact

The success wasn’t confined to television. The Tonight Show’s YouTube channel uploaded Gutfeld’s segment, and by Tuesday afternoon, the clip had racked up nearly 1 million views — more than any other interview on Fallon’s channel in nearly a month.

Comments sections on YouTube and social media were filled with mixed reactions, ranging from fans applauding Fallon for “breaking the bubble” and booking Gutfeld, to critics questioning NBC’s decision to give him a platform. Regardless of opinion, the engagement levels were undeniable.

A Ratings Lesson for Late-Night TV

The episode’s performance offers a telling insight into the current late-night landscape. With overall viewership for traditional late-night shows trending downward in recent years, booking guests who can bring in audiences from outside the typical demographic may be a winning strategy.

“Love him or hate him, Greg Gutfeld brings a loyal audience,” said one television industry analyst. “By bringing him onto The Tonight Show, Fallon tapped into a group of viewers who may never otherwise watch NBC at 11:35 p.m.”

Could There Be More Crossovers?

This isn’t the first time late-night TV has benefited from mixing styles and audiences, but the Gutfeld-Fallon pairing is a particularly stark example given the networks’ different ideological leanings. Whether NBC will invite Gutfeld back — or whether Fallon will appear on Gutfeld! in return — remains to be seen.

For now, the one-night experiment proved ratings gold for The Tonight Show, giving Fallon his biggest audience in almost two years.

The Takeaway

Greg Gutfeld’s visit to The Tonight Show wasn’t just a ratings win; it was a reminder that late-night TV can still surprise viewers. In a media climate often defined by audience silos, moments that bridge networks and styles are rare — and, as this episode proved, potentially game-changing.

With streaming competition fierce and traditional TV fighting for every viewer, don’t be surprised if more late-night shows look for ways to replicate this kind of high-profile crossover.

Until then, Fallon can enjoy holding the 2025 crown for the year’s biggest Tonight Show audience — thanks in large part to a Fox News host who’s used to being the one with the ratings bragging rights.