Jimmy Fallon Bridges Cultures and Broadway: Welsh Traditions Meet ‘Wicked’ Stars on The Tonight Show

Welsh Folklore Takes Center Stage on The Tonight Show

It’s not every night that a centuries-old Welsh tradition gets a prime-time spotlight in front of millions of American viewers. But when Emmy-winning actor Matthew Rhys joined Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, the studio’s usual blend of comedy and celebrity chatter took an unexpected, folkloric turn. Rhys, born in Cardiff and renowned for roles spanning The Americans to his latest Netflix thriller The Beast in Me, used his guest spot to open the door on Wales’ Mari Lwyd custom—a New Year’s ritual as strange as it is storied.

Prompted by Fallon’s curiosity about Welsh customs, Rhys described a home life peppered with lamb, leeks, and daffodils—nods to Saint David’s Day, the Welsh equivalent of Saint Patrick’s Day. But the conversation quickly grew more peculiar. Rhys recounted the Mari Lwyd: a tradition in which a group parades a horse’s skull draped in a white cape from house to house on New Year’s Eve, singing verses in a call-and-response ‘battle’ to earn entry, food, and drink. “We sort of pretend that we invented rap,” Rhys joked, likening the poetic exchanges to musical battles. Fallon, equal parts fascinated and incredulous, asked, “So people are walking around holding a horse’s head?” Rhys replied, “On the first of January, yes. A dead horse’s head with a white cape. Usually there’s ribbons and bells that go with it.”

For many in the Tonight Show audience, this glimpse of Welsh heritage—where entertainment once meant door-to-door verse duels—offered a window into a culture rarely seen on American screens. Rhys’s storytelling, laced with humor and self-deprecation, invited viewers to appreciate the peculiar charm and communal spirit at the heart of Mari Lwyd.

Matthew Rhys: From Welsh Traditions to Netflix Thrillers

The conversation didn’t linger solely in the realm of folklore. Rhys’s appearance also served as a launchpad for his latest project, The Beast in Me, a Netflix drama currently climbing the streamer’s top ten. He spoke with Fallon about drawing inspiration from The Silence of the Lambs for his role, teasing a psychological game of cat-and-mouse opposite Claire Danes. The series, penned by X-Files alum Gabe Rotter, finds Rhys as Nile Jarvis—a real estate mogul with a shadowy past—locked in suspenseful interplay with Danes’ grieving writer, Aggie Wiggs. Their tense dynamic, Rhys explained, fuels the show’s chilling narrative and keeps viewers guessing who, if anyone, is truly monstrous.

Beyond the screen, November 2025 marks a major moment for Rhys on stage as well. He’s set to portray Welsh icon Richard Burton in a one-man show across Welsh theaters and at London’s Old Vic, honoring the centenary of Burton’s birth. The performances, fundraising for Michael Sheen’s new Welsh National Theatre, reflect Rhys’s ongoing commitment to his cultural roots and the arts community.

‘Wicked’ Cast Joins Jimmy Fallon for a Viral Musical Sequel

If Welsh traditions brought history to The Tonight Show, Broadway brought spectacle. On a special post–Sunday Night Football edition, Fallon debuted a sequel to one of his show’s most viral musical sketches: the “Wicked Beat.” The original, featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo riffing on motifs from the hit musical Wicked, had exploded online—amassing more than 228 million views and 20 million interactions in 2024 alone, according to LateNighter.

The new installment ups the ante, welcoming the entire Wicked: For Good ensemble: Grande, Erivo, Bowen Yang, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, and Jeff Goldblum. The segment’s rapid-fire, beat-driven mashup sees each cast member stepping in for synchronized lyric punches, echoing the original’s tightly choreographed style. Fallon himself makes a cameo, keeping the energy playful and irreverent. The performance kicked off “Wicked Week” on The Tonight Show, with Grande, Erivo, and Yeoh slated for interviews over the coming nights, all building hype for the film’s imminent release.

Behind the scenes, the cross-promotion runs deep—NBC and Universal Pictures, both under the Comcast umbrella, are leveraging Fallon’s platform as just one piece of a wider campaign, with cast appearances on everything from The Voice to Today and even Late Night with Seth Meyers. For Broadway fans and moviegoers alike, the synergy between late-night TV and musical theater has rarely felt so seamless.

Jimmy Fallon’s Role: Connector of Cultures and Genres

What’s striking about Fallon’s recent run is the sheer breadth of his guests and content. By juxtaposing Matthew Rhys’s Welsh traditions—complete with coal-filled stockings and lovespoons—with the dazzling spectacle of Wicked, Fallon demonstrates an aptitude for bridging the gap between local heritage and global pop culture. His Tonight Show stage becomes a meeting ground for folk customs, Netflix thrillers, and Broadway blockbusters, all wrapped in a package that feels both inclusive and entertaining.

In a late-night landscape often driven by celebrity gossip or viral gimmicks, Fallon’s willingness to let guests showcase their culture—whether through folklore or musical prowess—adds texture and depth. It’s this mix of sincerity and showmanship that keeps his show relevant, drawing audiences from disparate backgrounds and interests.

Assessment: Jimmy Fallon’s ability to weave together stories from Welsh folklore, contemporary thrillers, and Broadway’s biggest stars on The Tonight Show exemplifies the evolving role of late-night television as a cultural crossroads. By giving space to both tradition and innovation, Fallon not only entertains but also educates and connects, reflecting the diverse tapestry of modern entertainment.