“Great starter for 2026”: Internet reacts as Hudson Williams is set to make guest appearance on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’

Hudson Williams is officially taking his breakout moment to a new stage. The Heated Rivalry star is set to make his late-night television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this Wednesday, January 7. Fans have been buzzing ever since the announcement dropped, turning what might have been a standard TV booking into a full-blown social media event.

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For Hudson Williams, this isn’t just another interview slot — it’s a milestone. Heated Rivalry, the hockey-set queer romance series streaming on Crave in Canada and on HBO Max in the U.S., has taken off in a big way since its late-November premiere. The show has drawn a massive online following, made its leads household names among fans, and now it’s pushing one of its stars into mainstream late-night spotlight on one of American TV’s longest-running talk shows.

Hudson Williams on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

When news broke that Williams would be joining Jimmy Fallon this week, reactions lit up timelines fast. On Reddit alone, thousands of fans celebrated nearly instantly there were posts with over a thousand upvotes within hours, sharing everything from excitement about his interview to hopes that his Heated Rivalry co-star Connor Storrie might follow soon.

Across Instagram and X, comments ranged from emotional “a great starter for 2026 😭🫶🏻"

to celebratory about his rise

“100% pure class. our first lady.”

Others made it clear they expect big things from Wednesday’s show

“This gonna be breaking records with viewers”

and

“GIVING THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT”

The buzz isn’t just about the appearance itself, but what it represents a moment where a relatively new face in scripted TV gets mainstream exposure that usually comes much later in an actor’s career.

Part of the excitement also comes from Williams’ rapid rise online. Heated Rivalry turned into a cultural talking point almost overnight, with its leads quickly becoming fan favorites and trending names across platforms. That kind of momentum and the vocal, enthusiastic fanbase around it has a way of amplifying even routine announcements into viral social moments.

Wednesday’s episode, airing on NBC and streaming later on Peacock, will mark a first for Williams and a big chapter in Heated Rivalry’s growing story. Whether it brings new audiences or just gives long-time fans something fun to celebrate, one thing is clear: this feels like the start of something bigger for Hudson Williams.

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