Ariana Grande, Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller Crash Jimmy Fallon’s Monologue With a Christmas Carol

The ‘Focker In-Law’ promotional tour is officially in full swing, and its stars brought some early holiday cheer to late-night television. Ariana Grande, Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller took over a special Sunday night episode of ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ on November 8. The trio was there to promote the 4th installment of the ‘Meet the Parents’ franchise.

The new comedy brings back a familiar family. Stiller and De Niro reprise their roles as Greg Focker and Jack Byrnes, while Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner and Teri Polo also return. Grande joins the cast as Olivia Jones, alongside fellow newcomers Beanie Feldstein and Skyler Gisondo.

The fun started before the stars even sat down. After Fallon mentioned that the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree had arrived and hinted that the occasion made him want to sing, Stiller, De Niro and Grande walked onstage and joined him for a rendition of ‘O Christmas Tree’. The highlight came at the end, when De Niro’s vocals were playfully dubbed.

The singing was only the beginning. During the interview, Grande described joining the franchise as a very surreal experience. She explained that she first met Stiller when he directed her in ‘Zoolander 2’, which she said gave them an easy comfort with each other right from the start.

Ariana Grande, Robert De Niro, and Ben Stiller sing “O Christmas Tree” on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.’ https://t.co/s7Ph49YcXT

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 9, 2026

She also shared a story about her first scene with Stiller in the new film, in which her character gives him the Heimlich maneuver. Grande recalled the stunt team walking them through the moment, and the cast later recreated the dinner table scene, which also appears in the movie’s trailer.

Stiller and De Niro looked back as well, reflecting on filming the first ‘Meet the Parents’ more than 25 years ago. Their chemistry is a big part of why the franchise is returning after such a long break.

The episode was packed with bits. The trio played a game of ‘True Confessions’, in which Grande convinced the group that she once fell into a tank at the Boca Aquarium when she was 4. They also took part in a sketch called ‘Slow Clap Soap Opera’, a dramatic parody of the classic slow clap.

First trailer for ‘FOCKER IN-LAW’, starring Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro and Ariana Grande. In theaters on November 25. https://t.co/LdAqdMseUS

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 16, 2026

Lil Baby served as the episode’s musical guest. Fallon’s next Sunday episode is set to feature Jennifer Lopez and Anthony Mackie, with a musical performance from Quavo. The new film is directed by John Hamburg, who co-wrote the 3 previous movies in the series. He takes over directing duties after Jay Roach helmed ‘Meet the Parents’ and ‘Meet the Fockers’, and Paul Weitz directed ‘Little Fockers’.

The story reportedly centers on Greg and Pam’s son, Henry Focker, and his fiancée, played by Grande. That setup suggests the Focker family’s famous circle of trust is about to be tested all over again, with Greg possibly getting a taste of what Jack put him through.

The film also marks a big next step for Grande after her success in ‘Wicked’. She wrapped filming last year, signing off with a promise to see fans next November, and that moment has nearly arrived.

Universal Pictures is releasing ‘Focker In-Law’ in US theaters on November 25, just in time for Thanksgiving. If the cast’s chemistry on Fallon’s stage is any indication, audiences can expect plenty of laughs when they return to the family dinner table.

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