The Olympic bobsledder Jimmy Fallon spoofed as a wing-eating fatty on his “Tonight Show” premiere swung back at the comedian on Tuesday — calling him a big chicken.
Fallon took a playful jab at bronze-medal winner Steven Holcomb in a bit called “Tonight Show superlatives,” dubbing him “most likely to find an old hot wing in his pocket!”
Holcomb fired back, saying he may munch wings — but Fallon is a wimp.
“I actually did offer Jimmy a ride [in the bobsled] at the beginning of the season and he declined. He said he was scared,” Holcomb said on the “Dan Patrick Show” on Tuesday.
“It is what it is. He tried to take a jab at me and that’s fine,” Holcomb added. “It happens. We’ll work something out.”
The bobsledder later laughed it off, tweeting, “I’m a little offended @jimmyfallon. Seriously, how dare you assume I’m a Teriyaki wing guy? I only eat Buffalo style.”
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” premiered to a strong 11.3 million viewers Monday on NBC after the Winter Olympics — numbers that put Fallon well above his late-night competition.
The viewership for Fallon’s opening-night show — which featured guests Will Smith and U2 — was up 71 percent from the 6.6 million who tuned in for his final “Late Night” show on Feb. 7.
“Late Show with David Letterman” raked in only 2.4 million viewers on CBS, and “Jimmy Kimmel Live” drew just 2.1 million viewers Monday on ABC.
Fallon’s debut drew the second-biggest “Tonight Show” audience since May 2009.
Jay Leno’s finale on Feb. 6, 2014, attracted 14.6 million viewers, roughly 3 million more than Fallon’s opener.
Monday’s audience also beat out Conan O’Brien’s “Tonight Show” premiere in 2009, which had 9.2 million viewers, and Leno’s 2010 return, which brought in 6.7 million viewers.
The former Alpine skier and member of the Army National Guard has battled depression and overcame a calf injury earlier this week to win bronze in the two-man bobsled with partner Steven Langton. The US had not medaled in the two-man event since 1952.