For the first time in over 40 years, “The Tonight Show” is back in NY. The controversial move came after a succession of line-up changes by NBC, who finally announced last year that Jimmy Fallon would be replacing long-time host Jay Leno in late night television’s most coveted time slot. The “SNL” alumnou, famous for being one of the happiest people in Hollywood, was all smiles during his hugely-anticipated debut on Monday, Feb. 17.
Whether you are a fan of Fallon’s work or not, there is no denying that he is the embodiment of childlike humility. After making his inaugural entrance to tumultuous applause, he delivered many sentiments of gratitude, including a choked-up ode to his daughter Winnie, praise for his loyal band “The Roots,” and even a tongue-in-cheek reference to the previous hosts of the Tonight Show: “Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, and Jay Leno.”
Though a case can be made that Fallon overdid his gratitude, his monologue was a classy way to introduce himself to viewers that may not be familiar with his stint on “Late Night.” Despite Fallon’s recent fame, this could be a very likely case; “The Tonight Show” had been hosted by Leno for almost two decades, and its built-in audience isn’t necessarily privy to Fallon’s goofy, impression-heavy sense of humor. If Fallon wanted to rise above the inevitable comparisons to his predecessor, he would have to use his unique comedic style to his advantage.
Fallon’s greatest strength undoubtedly lies in his physical bits, and he’s probably best known for dancing, rapping, and playing games with celebrities. In one of the most memorable moments of the night, Fallon invited Will Smith to take part in a musical montage about the history of hip-hop dance moves. Always one to play up pop culture, Fallon included references to Smith’s “Fresh Prince” days by doing ‘The Carlton,’ and even tried out the move made notorious by Miley Cyrus, the twerk.
When inviting Smith over to the desk for an interview, however, it was clear where Fallon’s weakness lied. Fallon is such a natural nice-guy that the two didn’t talk about much of consequence and spent the majority of the time congratulating each other on being successful. Genuine though it was, it makes one curious as to whether or not Fallon will be able to hold his own when shooting the breeze with guests less likely to play along.
A later interview with the members of U2 proved no less awkward, but the band still managed to give Fallon’s first episode of “The Tonight Show” a few highlights. Beaming with nothing but pride for his favorite city, Fallon joined U2 and a throng of equally-enthusiastic fans on the roof of NBC Studios, known as “Top of the Rock.” As the band belted out one of their new songs, wide camera angles showcased the city lit up below, a reflection of the incredible energy that Fallon brought to this episode.
The band later closed out the show with an acoustic rendition of their Oscar-nominated song, “Ordinary Love.” As “The Roots” joined in and the audience rose to its feet, one couldn’t help but feel immensely happy for Fallon. No matter the venue, his goal is always the same: to spread joy wherever he goes. He’s just a kid at heart living his dream, and it has never been more evident than during this first episode of “The Tonight Show,” where his incredible optimism and authenticity outshined anything the critics could have accused him of.
Whether Fallon’s genuine spirits will be enough to carry the weight of his hosting gig remains to be seen. He’s had a solid first week, with steady ratings and a plethora of celebrity cameos, but NBC’s Olympics coverage is currently taking away from the buzz his debut might have generated. Fallon also seems to be suffering from playing it a little too safe with his politeness; as he gets cozier in his new studio, he’ll have to open up to taking more risks if he hopes to keep his audience.
But it’s important to remember that despite any criticism he might receive, Fallon will continue being Fallon. As he said during his opening monologue, his biggest goal is sending you “to sleep with a smile on your face,” and in that respect, Fallon has succeeded.
PHOTO TAKEN from nbc.com
