After Midnight may be over, but Jo Firestone isn’t done with late night just yet.
The comedian and former head writer for the Taylor Tomlinson-hosted CBS series popped up on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Tuesday night—this time as a correspondent during Fallon’s monologue.
Firestone anchored a new segment called “Cold Takes,” a street bit that asks New Yorkers for their opinion on hot-button topics while they plunge their heads into buckets of ice water. The first subject up for (literal) cold critique? Donald Trump’s proposed “Big Beautiful Bill.” Participants delivered their takes between gasps, while an underwater camera captured every gurgled reaction. Firestone, deadpan as ever, narrated the madness.
The appearance marked Firestone’s first non-guest return to Tonight since her days as a staff writer from 2016 to 2018, when she was a frequent on-air presence. Past roles included characters like “Miss Backup Ohio/USA,” Kellyanne Conway, and Betsy DeVos—as well as appearances as herself in product demos and other field pieces in Rockefeller Plaza.
Since leaving Tonight, Firestone has stayed deeply embedded in the late-night world, contributing to shows like Ziwe on Showtime and After Midnight, where she served as head writer until its series finale earlier this month. She’s also returned to Tonight a handful of times as a stand-up—but this marks her first time back in a sketch.
Also out this week: Firestone’s debut comedic thriller novel, Murder on Sex Island, published Tuesday by Bantam Books.
Watch the full “Cold Takes” segment below:
