Late night hosts joke through highlights from Biden and Putin's big 'Boniva in Geneva'
"Earlier today, President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin finally met for their big summit in Geneva," Jimmy Fallon said on Wednesday's Tonight Show. "It was pretty much the opposite of the Friends reunion." Afterward, "the two leaders agreed to keep in touch," he said. "When Biden said 'I'll give you my email,' Putin said, 'I already have your email — and password and Venmo, don't worry about it.'"
Putin was asked if he thinks the U.S. and Russia will now have a better relationship, and he replied, puzzlingly, "There's no happiness in life," Fallon said. "That's actually an excerpt from Putin's new book, Chicken Soup for the Russian Soul."
Yeah, "Putin got dark, man," Trevor Noah said at The Daily Show. Although "'In life there is no happiness,' that's basically how Russian soccer moms say 'Live, laugh, love!' But there was some substance that came out of this summit."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The summit was "shorter than expected, much like Vladimir Putin," Stephen Colbert quipped at The Late Show. "So, just what did they accomplish with their mini-meeting? I dunno. ... The only thing that was exciting about it is that this time it was not the most demoralizing, nauseating, international boot-licking anyone has ever seen," he said. "The Boniva in Geneva didn't have to clear a very high bar, it just had to be less embarrassing than the Stinky in Helsinki."
"Trump had to be so jealous," Jimmy Kimmel said on Kimmel Live. "He loved his Sugar Vladdy so much, one compliment from Vladimir Putin, Trump never stopped talking about it." When Biden was asked whether he can trust Putin, he trotted out the old expression, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating it," he said. "You know, there's another expression that goes: 'If Vladimir Putin gives you pudding, don't eat it.'"
Late Night's Seth Meyers extensively recapped 2018's Putin-Trump summit and re-enacted Putin's new no-happiness-in-life line as both Warner Herzog and Christoph Waltz.
"I'm guessing this is why Putin isn't asked to speak at a lot of graduations," James Corden said at The Late Late Show. "He said happiness doesn't exist? I'm like, dude, relax, you just got a free pair of sunglasses!'" Biden's gift of custom aviators tickled Corden. "Biden with a brand ambassador side hustle? I kind of love it," he said. "Tricky, though, figuring out a good present for someone like Vladimir Putin, isn't it? What do you get the man who's killed everything?"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Today's political cartoons - March 16, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - pointed commentary, Haiti in trouble, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 hilarious cartoons about the RNC's MAGA takeover
Cartoons Artists take on RNC funding, Lara Trump, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Trump's presidential run: a bad bet for Republicans?
Talking Point The GOP is taking a 'big gamble' on former president's 2024 White House bid
By The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
South Korea passes law banning sale and production of dog meat
Speed Read Rare bipartisan support 'highlights changing attitudes' as young people shun centuries-old tradition
By The Week UK Published
-
Out of touch: Daryl Hall obtains restraining order against bandmate John Oates
Speed Read Lawsuit reveals unharmonious relationship between most commercially successful duo in pop history
By Jamie Timson, The Week UK Published
-
Singer Cassie accuses music mogul Diddy of decade of rape and abuse
Speed Read Rapper denies claims in lawsuit describing him as a 'serial domestic abuser'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Bad Bunny joins in criticism of AI music
Speed Read Concern growing in music industry over generative learning, unauthorised impersonations and copyright issues
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published