Tag Archives: The Tonight Show

Jimmy Fallon & ‘The Tonight Show’ present the quintessential ‘Empire’ parody, “Jimpire”

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The next Tonight Show Digital Original sketch is the Empire parody we should have gotten months ago when SNL didn’t quite hit the mark with theirs. This short is nothing short of hysterical.

Jimmy Fallon stars as Lyon patriarch Lucious. His Terrence Howard impression is one of his best to date; he’s got Howard’s shaky voice cadence down to a science. The premise borrows from the Fox soap. Jimmy’s vetting his inner circle to pick his heir to The Tonight Show, or as it’s aptly called here, the “Jimpire.” The late-night talk show host is self-deprecating at the top of the pre-taped sketch–he makes fun of his finger injury that’s seemingly taking forever to heal.

So who are Jimmy’s possible successors? There’s Questlove of The Roots, the Tonight Show‘s bandleader who harbors “a little secret.” Clearly this is a take on Empire‘s Jamal, but the secret isn’t what you think. Roots MC Tariq is another candidate, and he channels Hakeem with some drip-dripitty-drop-ing. Andre, the eldest Lyon, is also accounted for and the sketch has fun with the character’s temperamental mood swings. And finally there’s Tonight Show announcer Steve Higgins playing Higgy, the Cookie sendup here. He’s just as outrageous in the role as you think he’d be, and more.

There are a couple exciting Empire cameos sprinkled in, but I won’t ruin those for you. Who do you think has what it takes to run the Jimpire? Mash play and find out! (In case you’re wondering, the real Empire returns for its second season this Wednesday, Sept. 23 on Fox.) Continue reading Jimmy Fallon & ‘The Tonight Show’ present the quintessential ‘Empire’ parody, “Jimpire” →

Host Jimmy Fallon & guest Bradley Cooper cannot keep it together in ‘Tonight Show’ interview

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Earlier this week, newly inducted Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon invited actor Bradley Cooper (The Hangover) over for a typical late night interview and what audiences got was something…different. Donning bizarro visors with Guy Fieri-like hair sprouting out, Fallon and Cooper simply could not keep it together. For ten minutes straight the two engaged in an uncontrollable laugh fest that is admittedly unprofessional but simultaneously unabashedly hysterical and infectious. Enjoy the uncut “interview” above!

Jimmy Fallon to replace Jay Leno on ‘The Tonight Show’ in Spring 2014

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It’s official: Jimmy Fallon will take over The Tonight Show in Spring 2014 when Jay Leno will step down (again) from his post as the late-night ratings king. When Fallon moves to 11:35PM, The Tonight Show will return to its home at 30 Rock in New York City. Leno took over the hosting duties of The Tonight Show in 1992 from TV icon Johnny Carson, and when Leno steps down in 2014 he will have hosted for 22 years. A replacement for Fallon at Late Night has not been picked yet, but rumors are swirling that executive producer Lorne Michaels will fill the vacant seat with another SNL Weekend Update anchor, Seth Meyers. Here are some quotes pulled from an NBC press release:

Leno: “Congratulations Jimmy.  I hope you’re as lucky as me and hold on to the job until you’re the old guy. If you need me, I’ll be at the garage.”

Fallon: “I’m really excited to host a show that starts today instead of tomorrow.”

Steve Burke, CEO of NBCUniversal: “Jay Leno is an entertainment icon, making millions of people laugh every weeknight for more than 20 years. His long reign as the highest-rated late-night host is a testament to his work ethic and dedication to his viewers and to NBC. We are purposefully making this change when Jay is #1, just as Jay replaced Johnny Carson when he was #1.  Jimmy Fallon is a unique talent and this is his time.  I’m thrilled he will become the sixth host of ‘The Tonight Show’ at exactly the right moment, in conjunction with our coverage of next year’s Winter Olympic Games from Sochi, Russia.”

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg commented on Tonight moving from Burbank, California to 30 Rock. “The Tonight Show will bring even more jobs and economic activity to our city — and we couldn’t be happier that one of New York’s own is bringing the show back to where it started — and where it belongs.”

When The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon premieres in Spring 2014, Lorne Michaels will follow him to serve as exec producer of his new show and his old one; he replaces longtime Tonight EP Debbie Vickers. As long as Leno follows through with his talk show retirement this time, Fallon is poised to smoothly transition into the earlier hour of entertainment. Way to go Jimmy! Let’s hope he brings The Roots with him. Watch Fallon and Leno sing it out in a clip embedded after the break.

[Via Deadline 1, 2] Continue reading Jimmy Fallon to replace Jay Leno on ‘The Tonight Show’ in Spring 2014 →

An open letter; The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien is no more

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Dear Internet,

Today is a sad day.  Conan O’Brien, host of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, bids the show and NBC adieu.  Before I go on, please allow me to get this off my chest:

JAY LENO, NICE GOING.

After only seven months at The Tonight Show, NBC decided to remove Conan from the show.  The Jay Leno Show experiment failed, The Tonight Show was not receiving high ratings, and so the executives at NBC have chosen to course correct this mess by replacing Conan with Leno.  It’s like the whole switcharoo never happened.  I am angry with NBC and Leno for various reasons.  Although Conan’s ratings were not blasting through the roof, he was connecting with the coveted 18-49 demographic and slowly gaining a larger following.  NBC is kicking Conan out just seven months into the gig; he’s barely got his feet wet!  And then there’s Leno.  As you can clearly see in the video above, he initially attempted to be a gentleman in 2004 when he addressed his audience about the passing of the baton with Conan which would come in 2009.  After his failed experiment show at 10PM, Leno should have recognized his time was up and leave The Tonight Show with the man who worked so hard and for so long to reach his position.  Instead he tells NBC he is absolutely willing to replace Conan and end this legal mess on a low, sad note.

That said, let’s reflect back on Conan’s short stay at The Tonight Show: Continue reading An open letter; The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien is no more →

Pick a side: Conan O’Brien vs. NBC (+ Leno)

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This past week in entertainment has been filled with rumors and speculation about the late night debacle at NBC.  Leno’s show failed, O’Brien is being forced to a later timeslot; where does this leave Fallon and Carson Daily?  I’ve scoured through the facts and the rumors to present to you the latest details in the war between Conan O’Brien and NBC.

Conan O’Brien took over The Tonight Showon June 1, 2009.  Jay Leno gracefully bit adieu the 11:35PM timeslot and O’Brien has continued to pump out the funny to this day.  I wish this is where the story ended, but then I wouldn’t have anything to report, right?  After Leno’s departure NBC decided to green light an “experimental” late night talk show with Leno at the 10PM timeslot.  Having The Jay Leno Show air 5 days a week at the 10PM spot was a major cost cutting move for NBC.  Airing this show instead of different scripted drama series (like the other networks do) saved NBC a ton of money.  After about four months, though, NBC declared this experiment a failure.  Though The Jay Leno Show had some people watching, its weak ratings (compared to other networks) were negatively affecting local affiliates who air 11PM newscasts.  Leno’s weak ratings made for a bad lead-in for these newscasts and this is why the top dogs at NBC decided the show must end and be replaced with standard scripted programming.  Again I wish the story ended here, but it does not.

After February 12 The Jay Leno Showwill halt production.  Jeff Gaspin, NBC Universal’s Chairman of Television Entertainment, proposed a plan that has the late night hosts (and the general public) in a scuffle.  The new plan is to have Leno come back to late night TV with a show at 11:35PM in a half hour format, bumping O’Brien to 12:05AM and Fallon to 1:05AM.  Carson Daily, of course, would likely be finished.  O’Brien is not taking this news well, and he has every right to feel this way.  He was given the prestigious job to host The Tonight Show, following the late great Johnny Carson and Jay Leno.  Just because NBC’s experiment with Leno failed, this does not give them a right to push O’Brien and The Tonight Show past midnight, something that has never happened in the show’s long history.  It’s about tradition and respect, and this latest proposal from NBC throws all that away.  And this is why O’Brien is angry.  O’Brien speaks to the “People of Earth”:

Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

So where do we stand now?  O’Brien has publicly stated that he will not move to the 12:05PM timeslot.  If NBC decides to go ahead with their current proposal, O’Brien leaves.  AND THIS CANNOT HAPPEN.  NBC really wants to keep Leno and O’Brien, so they better think of something fast.  Gapun on the sticky situation: “What’s important to Jay is telling jokes at 11:30. What’s really important to Conan is The Tonight Show. I couldn’t satisfy both 100%. That’s why I came up with this compromise.”  In my opinion, Leno should be a gentleman like he was when he past the baton to O’Brien at the end of his tenure at The Tonight Show.  His 10PM show was a flop; he should accept this and move on.  But Leno loves two things in life: cars and telling jokes at 11:35PM.  If he gets what he wants we lose O’Brien.  AND THIS CANNOT HAPPEN.  Sure, O’Brien lost a percentage of older viewers from the Leno era, but he dominates the coveted 18-to-49 demographic for advertisers.  And he is so damn funny.  (There’s been speculation that FOX is interested in picking up O’Brien if NBC loses him.)

It’s interesting how people are taking sides on the matter.  “Team Conan” has been a trending topic on Twitter for days now, and even the other late night hosts are sharing their thoughts.  When it comes down to it, almost everyone is on Team Conan (including myself) and we all hope for this to be resolved soon.  Sure, watching O’Brien make fun of NBC and Leno every night has been a blast, but this situation needs to get sorted out so he can move on!  If Leno would just bow out like he should have done before the idea for his 10PM show, everything will work out.  O’Brien keeps his spot and (more importantly for O’Brien) The Tonight Show tradition carries on.  I’m on Team Conan, how about you?

Look after the break for O’Brien’s “People of Earth” letter in it entirety and a few videos of other late night hosts adding to the NBC-bashing fest.

[Via IGN, here & here; EW, here, here & here]

Continue reading Pick a side: Conan O’Brien vs. NBC (+ Leno) →