The Tonight Show turns the GOP debate into a dating game show hosted by Obama

Jimmy Fallon presents The Debating Game
(Image credit: The Tonight Show)

What if, instead of duking it out on Wednesday night at the Reagan Library, the Republican candidates for president fought for the affections of just one Iowa voter? That's the premise of "The Debating Game," premiered on Tuesday's Tonight Show. The host, President Obama ("Because, frankly, I'm over being president"), asked the questions of a pompous Donald Trump, a timid Jeb Bush, and a thoroughly emasculated Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.).

Trump, played by Jimmy Fallon, doesn't really answer the questions, while Bush, performed by Steve Higgins, said he doesn't have a brother and talks a lot about mildly spiced guacamole while sending the lovely contestant, against her better judgment, into the arms of Trump. Graham mostly talks about his cats. If the whole brawl thing doesn't work out, CNN should take note of format for the next debate. Peter Weber

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

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.

Sign up
Explore More
Peter Weber, The Week US

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.