Late-night TV took a wild trip down memory lane when Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld shocked Jimmy Fallon — and the audience — with a drunken story from 15 years ago that started in a secret NYC speakeasy and ended with wrestling on the floor and a crumpled cigarette.

In an unexpected and hilarious revelation during Thursday night’s episode of *The Tonight Show*, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld surprised Jimmy Fallon — and millions of viewers — by recounting the first time the two late-night stars met years ago in a drunken haze at an illegal speakeasy in New York City.

The encounter, forgotten by Fallon until Gutfeld jogged his memory on live TV, painted a chaotic, comedic picture of two future titans of television unknowingly sharing a moment that would one day become late-night lore.

Gutfeld, who currently helms *Gutfeld!* on Fox News — now the top-rated late-night show on cable — joined Fallon for a lighthearted interview on NBC’s iconic stage.

Right out of the gate, Gutfeld embraced Fallon and teased, “This is hilarious – we’ve met before.” Fallon looked surprised. “Yes, you have no memory of it,” Gutfeld continued, “which is understandable, because we were wasted.”

According to Gutfeld, the encounter happened about 15 years ago in Hell’s Kitchen, at an underground bar owned by a mutual friend named Tracy — a man Gutfeld jokingly described as “cheap, but if you want somebody dead, he’ll do it.”

The place, as Gutfeld recalled, looked like “a spot where special ops forces waterboard terrorists.” Fallon’s eyes widened as the details began triggering faint memories. “I think I remember bringing beer into the bar,” Fallon said slowly, “and then him charging me for my own beer.”

As Gutfeld told it, what started as a chance meeting quickly devolved into something out of a slapstick comedy. “You run towards me, and you tackle me like you’re a giant golden retriever,” Gutfeld said to Fallon, causing the audience to erupt in laughter.

“You’re on top of me, wrestling me. Then you suddenly switch and start wrestling my buddy Andy, and the two of you end up rolling around on the floor.”

Fallon seemed increasingly stunned, laughing as the memory — and perhaps the embarrassment — came flooding back. “What?!” he shouted in disbelief. But Gutfeld wasn’t done.

In the next part of the story, Gutfeld said he lit a cigarette and began smoking, when Fallon, mid-wrestle, suddenly stopped, grabbed the cigarette from his mouth, crumpled it, and sternly warned, “These things will kill you!” before tossing it away.

“Dude, I’m not rich. You’re rich. Cigarettes are expensive in New York City,” Gutfeld recalled yelling. “Your face changed — you looked genuinely sad — and then you just left.”

But just five minutes later, Gutfeld said, Fallon returned with a full pack of cigarettes and handed it to him. “I go, ‘That was really sweet. You want me to die,’” he joked, causing both Fallon and the audience to burst into laughter again.

Fallon sheepishly apologized on air. “I’m sorry I tackled you,” he said, smiling through the story. Gutfeld assured him it was all in good fun: “It was all very good-natured, and it was a great memory. And I’m so glad I finally got to tell you!”

Fallon nodded, his expression softening. “I’m so happy. That’s a true story… I remember. All the details you said are correct.”

The segment offered a rare, unscripted glimpse into the overlapping orbits of two television figures who typically represent very different ends of the entertainment spectrum.

Gutfeld, a conservative commentator known for his biting humor, has carved out a niche with *Gutfeld!* on Fox News, which routinely trounces traditional late-night talk shows in viewership.

Fallon, meanwhile, has built his legacy at NBC with a more apolitical, family-friendly brand of comedy.

Despite their stylistic differences, the moment highlighted a shared humanity — two young men, years ago, letting loose in a secret bar, unaware they’d both one day host top-rated shows on rival networks.

The anecdote seemed to strike a nostalgic chord with both men, and it certainly entertained viewers across social media, where clips from the interview quickly went viral.

Gutfeld also took the opportunity to promote his new FOX Nation game show *What Did I Miss?*, which challenges contestants — who have been isolated from the world — to differentiate between real and fake news stories.

The concept is a playful but pointed nod to the chaotic and confusing nature of the modern media landscape, a topic Gutfeld has often explored in his work both on television and in his books.

Throughout his career, Gutfeld has worn many hats: editor-in-chief of *Men’s Health* and *Stuff* magazine, host of the cult-favorite *Red Eye*, and co-host of *The Five*, another Fox News ratings juggernaut.

His current show, *Gutfeld!*, is not only a ratings success but a cultural outlier — a politically conservative comedy show in a field largely dominated by liberal voices.

Fallon, for his part, seemed to embrace the strange reunion with open arms, praising Gutfeld for the vivid memory and, more importantly, for finally telling the story.

It’s rare to see such an off-the-cuff and personal tale unfold on national television — especially between hosts who could easily be considered competitors.

But if Thursday’s show proved anything, it’s that sometimes the funniest stories are the ones you don’t even remember living — until someone else reminds you, live in front of an audience of millions.