Jimmy Fallon put a dramatic new spin on the guest interview format when it came time for Paul Rudd to promote his new movie.
Following a traditional Tonight Show sit-down chat with Rudd, the portion of the interview usually reserved for the guest to pitch their latest project became a hybrid sketch-interview. To kick off the second chat segment with Rudd, Fallon pointed out that the actor has done almost everything in his career—“sitcoms, romcoms, Marvel movies, theatre”—but not a soap opera.
“We could do the rest of your interview as a soap opera, and you can check that off of your list,” Fallon suggested.
Throwing classy smoking jackets over their suits (plus wigs and an eyepatch for Rudd), the pair stepped onto a set and Rudd fielded questions about his new film, Death of a Unicorn.
Rudd has been making the late-night rounds to hype up the A24 film, released in theaters today, including a visit to The Daily Show and a day drinking session for Late Night with Seth Meyers.
On “Soap Opera Interview,” the question-and-answer was interspersed with punches, cries, and dramatic reveals. “It’s not easy digging up these memories,” Rudd cried at one point after praising his experience working with “tremendous talent” Jenna Ortega. “Especially with… my amnesia.”
“Roll the damn clip!” Fallon later told Rudd, prompting the actor to cue not a full-screen video clip of the film, but a small snippet of My Little Pony shown on an old on-set TV.
This is the first time Fallon has staged a “Soap Opera Interview,” something that could easily become a recurring bit for The Tonight Show. But he’s made a habit of going all-out for Rudd’s appearances over the years—most memorably with their shot-for-shot music video remakes.
