Last night, Jimmy Fallon debuted his new version of Late Night. His cold opening featured a bit with Conan O'Brien, while it was funny, much of the rest of the show wasn't. There was a bit that featured audience members licking random objects – a lawnmower, an all-in-one printer, and a fishbowl – for ten bucks; and an incredibly stilted, uncomfortable interview with Robert De Niro among other things.
From the opening monologue, through the comedy bit, and until the end of the interview with De Niro, Fallon seemed incredibly nervous. The monologue Fallon delivered at the opening of the night featured him shifting in place, hopping from one foot to the other, and with some relatively poor delivery of the jokes. His "slow jamming the news" bit, where he and The Roots did a slow jam song to discuss issues with Obama's bailout bill, caused at least one laugh out loud moment, and certainly appeared to be something that could have a bright long term future on the show.
Again, Fallon was definitely nervous during the bit, but, as I pointed out yesterday, he ought to have been nervous. The question ought not be how scared was Fallon, but how much of a glimmer of hope for a better, brighter future for Fallon was there.
There, I think the answer is pretty positive for NBC, Fallon, and Late Night. For his second interview of the night, Fallon interviewed Justin Timberlake, and that interview went far better than his chat with De Niro. Timberlake and Fallon worked together on Saturday Night Live, so the two knew each other previously, and as big a singer as he is, Timberlake doesn't have the same cultural icon status that De Niro does.
The chat between Timberlake and Fallon may have been a little too much "inside baseball," with a lot of references to the twos' previous work together, but they were able to strike up a rapport, and Fallon was visibly far less nervous there. I think that the Timberlake interview, and Fallon's level of comfort with it, is a better reference point than the De Niro interview or his first monologue.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
I couldn't believe, during the second interview, that I found myself fervently believing that Timberlake should be the one hosting this.
2 - Mark Kalriess
Good write-up. I agree with you, the show has some potential, but some of the bits were downright awful. And Fallon has to be the worst host ever at pimping guests' products. I never understood why anyone thought Fallon was funny, but I hope he turns it around.
3 - darryl
why does america find fallon funny? i want the new host to succeed, but i also want the new host to be creative and funny, falon is not...i dont want a host to ease into the position, and provide me with re gurgitated shit every night...
lick for ten? video of the week? which ended with a soccer dancer that needed to be rescued..that doesnt remind me of the mc hammer dancer that needed to be rescued, that we were shown every night on the last week of conan...
i just dont understand how on earth he can succeed, when all through his career hes never shown any kind of creativity...
i defy falon to prove me wrong
4 - Starcasm
I agree with Matthew - JT did an amazing job. He was natural and funny - a true showman.
5 - Joey Petroni
Joey Petroni would make a much better talk show host. He is very comfortable and very funny NBC should cheek him out!
6 - eee
fallon has been consistently disappointing.
would rather do my taxes.
7 - Joey Petroni
I (Joey Petroni) was asked to work on some big movies in Hollowood, but I'd rather do Saturday Night Live first. I love NY and would rather do live TV for now. Not sure how to get in touch with the producers. I am leaving that up to my agent Paul Berkle.