NEW YORK — In a twist no one saw coming, Fox News’ resident provocateur Greg Gutfeld is heading to enemy territory — and late-night might never be the same.

The outspoken host of Gutfeld! and co-host of The Five just dropped a political and entertainment bombshell: he’s appearing on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon next week.

Yes, you read that correctly. Gutfeld — the man who gleefully mocks left-leaning celebrities, late-night comedians, and the “mainstream media” — is walking straight into the lion’s den of late-night liberalism. And he’s doing it with a grin.

“I’m Psyched,” Gutfeld Says — But Fallon’s Taking the Real Risk

“I am doing Jimmy Fallon next week,” Gutfeld announced casually on The Five Thursday. “I’m psyched about it because Fallon comes across as a great guy.”

But then came the kicker — a line that sounded more like a warning than a compliment:

“Me going on his show shows he’s not worried about upsetting his peers.”

Translation? Fallon’s fellow late-night elites might not be thrilled to see a Fox News figure share the same studio where progressive icons like Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris have been given cozy airtime.

And with Fallon already on shaky ground following internal NBC drama and declining ratings, inviting Gutfeld on is a high-wire act with no safety net.

Timing Is Everything: Colbert’s Exit Casts a Shadow

Gutfeld’s announcement comes just days after CBS confirmed that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert — often the anti-Trump flagship of late-night — is ending next year.

While the rest of the late-night gang rallied behind Colbert, Gutfeld was notably silent, offering no words of support.

Now, in a move that feels almost surgical, he’s headed to Fallon — Colbert’s direct competitor — for what some insiders are calling a “power flex” and others… “a declaration of war.”

Gutfeld Defends Fallon for ‘Humanizing’ Trump — and Takes a Swipe at the Left

Gutfeld didn’t stop at the announcement. He used his Five platform to revisit a now-infamous moment from 2016, when Jimmy Fallon playfully tousled then-candidate Donald Trump’s hair — a moment that sent the internet (and liberal Twitter) into meltdown.

“Remember, he got a lot of stick for ‘humanizing’ Trump,” Gutfeld said. “But it didn’t come from anybody but the people on the left who wanted to teach all entertainers a lesson: if you dare show that Trump is a human, then you’re toast.”

Gutfeld paused, then added with trademark smirk: “So it’s kind of nice that he’s taking this risk.”

Behind the Scenes: What’s Fallon Thinking?

NBC confirmed Gutfeld will appear on the Thursday, August 7 episode of The Tonight Show. But Fallon himself? Radio silence.

No tweet. No comment. No promo. And in the world of late-night — where guest reveals are teased weeks in advance — that’s suspicious.

Sources inside NBC say some senior producers are “nervous” about the optics. Others believe Fallon is “trying to break the mold” and offer viewers something unpredictable.

One producer, speaking anonymously, admitted:

“Look, we know Gutfeld’s going to go viral — for better or worse. The question is: are we ready for the backlash?”

Gutfeld vs. Late-Night: The Ratings War Is Personal

Let’s not forget: Greg Gutfeld has made it his personal mission to dismantle late-night as we know it.

While Colbert, Kimmel, and Fallon were losing audiences post-pandemic, Gutfeld’s Fox News show quietly surged — often beating the big three in total viewership, especially in key demographics.

He’s called mainstream comedians “predictable,” “partisan,” and “out of touch.” He’s mocked Fallon, Kimmel, and Meyers for years. And now? He’s walking straight onto one of their sets — possibly with jokes locked and loaded.

What Will Happen on August 7?

So what should we expect when Gutfeld hits Fallon’s couch?

Will he play nice? Or will he treat the studio like a Fox News segment and throw rhetorical grenades?

Will Fallon ask tough questions — or serve up softballs for laughs?

Will viewers even tune in, or tune out in protest?

One thing is certain: this isn’t just another talk show appearance. This is a cultural crossover with nuclear potential.

Late-Night Cold War… or Late-Night Ceasefire?

Gutfeld’s Fallon debut is either the beginning of a new era of ideological openness in late-night television… or the ultimate troll from the king of conservative comedy.

And while NBC might be betting on a viral moment, they’re also playing with fire — because when Gutfeld shows up, there are no scripts, no filters, and no guarantee that Fallon’s feel-good format can contain him.

Either way, August 7 is going to be one hell of a show.