By KATIE KLIMACEK
Staff Writer
“The Tonight Show” is one of those talk shows that has been rooted in pop culture for the past six decades. From Jack Paar to Johnny Carson, Conan O’Brien to Jay Leno, these hosts, guests, and monologues were always sure to be talked about the following morning around the water cooler.
With this show being the Holy Grail of late night and home to an eclectic mix of personalities, it’s an honor to call the next host one of our own. At the conclusion of the 2014 Winter Olympics, current “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno will pass the microphone to former Rosebud, Jimmy Fallon.
After more than 4,000 episodes as the current host of “The Tonight Show,” comedian Jay Leno will step down from his set in California and call it quits. After hearing that Leno was leaving for good this time around, many viewers wondered why. Was it because he wanted to retire? Was he asked to step down? Or did he accept a better offer? After much speculation, Leno divulged his reason for leaving.
While sitting down with “Fox News,” Leno said he felt it was time to leave. “You get to a certain age and you’re the old guy. For me, talking about rap music and things, it seems a bit silly” he said.
So it makes sense that NBC decided to have funny man Jimmy Fallon, who is 24 years younger than Leno, take over “The Tonight Show,” bringing a fresh breath of air and youth to the late night circuit.
For the past five years, Jimmy Fallon has been hosting “Late Night.” During that time, Conan O’Brien took over “The Tonight Show,” before Leno retook the position and O’Brien moved to TBS. Fallon is a good host with a lot of charisma and a genuine personality that anyone could love. He has the potential to bring a new flair to “The Tonight Show” that others have not been able to master.
With his background in stage and music, Fallon has an arsenal of great skits, parodies and musical duets that appeal to a wide range of viewers.
When Fallon first took over “Late Night,” he had a rocky start. He was new to the late night scene, making it hard for audience members to get used to a new host. But after a few months, his ratings began to pick up.
Fallon is not the conventional late night host. Unlike David Letterman and Leno, Fallon doesn’t just give a monologue, sit down and interview his guests. Instead, he has weekly bits after his monologue, such as #HASHTAG OF THE WEEK, or viewer favorite Thank You Notes, thanking common objects and places, not to mention the incorporation of SNL-style skits and parodies, where his nightly guests partake in the wacky bits.
From Jacob’s Patients, where Fallon and his guest use mannequin arms, to Point Pleasant Police Department, a parody of 80s cop sitcoms, Fallon’s slew of skits bring a new element to late night TV, an element that many fans are looking forward to being on “The Tonight Show.”
In the February issue of Vanity Fair, a several page spread talks about everything from Fallon’s humble beginnings as a young comedian, to his debut on “SNL,” and what the future has in store for him with “The Tonight Show.” David Kamp, author of the article, states perfectly who the soon-to-be host really is. “Fallon has brought a quirky sincerity and a musical sophistication to late-night.”
It sounds cliché, but he’s real. He’s not one to show off his many cars or million dollar houses. Rather, he’s the kind of man who is honest about who he is both on and off camera.
In Vanity Fair, Fallon’s former “SNL” Weekend Update co-host Tina Fey talked about him. “Jimmy actually likes talking to people, and that’s a little bit of a rarity.”
It’s true. So many of the past and present hosts seem to get bored in the daily act of interviewing stars about their newest movie premiere or humanitarian efforts. But Fallon goes into each interview with a clear head and a true passion for discussion.
“He’s the type of guy you can see attending a BBQ,” said freshman and late night TV enthusiast Alex Dindy.
Without his quirky personality and lovable antics, Jimmy Fallon would not have been a shoe-in for this prominent position. On February 17, don’t forget to tune in at 12:37 to watch our favorite Rosebud take over “The Tonight Show.” Herrrrrreeeeee’s JIMMY!
