Watch Madonna's stand-up comedy debut, on Fallon's Tonight Show


"Will you laugh if my jokes suck?" Madonna asked Thursday's Tonight Show audience, after Jimmy Fallon invited her to try her hand at stand-up comedy. The response suggested that Madonna could bomb and still feel good about herself, but she wasn't half bad, at least for a newbie. The setup was that Madonna said she wanted to try something simpler than the extravagant stage shows she carts around the world. Some people may have suggested an intimate acoustic tour; Fallon gave her a shot at stand-up. Watch a star being reborn (or not) below, especially if you like jokes about younger men and fine art. —Peter Weber
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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.
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