Episode 73

SEVENTY-THREE!!!

Monologue: Pretty standard monologue with the usual jokes so lets skip forward to the good stuff that I really want to talk about Senator Ted Cruz Gives Up Dual Citizenship, George R.R. Martin Joins Twitter -- Monologue

WAX ON WAX OFF!!!!!! Did I not say, just last night, that I was thinking/feeling, that the show was going to more Late Night games.and audience games at that?! SURE ENOUGH!!! My heart was overjoyed when I heard Jimmy say “it’s time for wax on, wax off!” A Late Night Staple that is always a good time, and always a no-winner for the contestant! Words can’t begin to explain the joy I had when they brought back this game. It’s like they had a plan for when they’d (the show) bring out the silly games that needed some time for the audience to understand who Jimmy is, and that plan was 70+ shows in.  Wax On Wax Off, Part 1, Wax On Wax Off, Part 2

GUESTS: Barbara Walters, America’s sweetheart… Was tonight’s first guest. First time she’s been on the show with Jimmy as far as I can remember. She had some great back and forth with Jimmy about Clint Eastwood and what could have been. They played a clip of her glaring into his eyes and wondering what could’ve been. Poor Barbara Walters… Too bad things never turned up for her. Then the conversation changed to stories of Johnny Carson, which are always great, and more abundant now that Jimmy has the Tonight Show franchise. And how they went to break is exactly what Jimmy is all about… After playing a clip from Carson where Walters danced, Jimmy danced with Walters as they went to break, a total Carson move, and a total move that just seemed to put a smile on your face.  Barbara Walters Could Have Been Mrs. Clint Eastwood

Up Next was Honey Boo Boo and Momma…I don’t watch the show; therefore, I’m not going to call them by their “names”, but it was a total Tonight Show moment with those two on the set, sorta took me back to the Leno days where he’d put the charm on. I don’t really know why the split up their segment into two segments, but alas, they did. Jimmy holding pom pons…adorable. 

The show concludes with standup from lliza Shlesinger. “Made famous” from Last Comic Standing, she’s turned into a pretty decent comedian. I love stand up comics, and I love Stand Up Comics on the Tonight Show. Doesn’t happen often enough, but when it it does, its fun and amazing! lliza was given a pretty decent set time. More than the usual 5 minutes comics were given on the Tonight Show. She had a great set that had me laughing! Iliza Shlesinger Has Planned Three Baby Showers on Pinterest

Episode 72

“SEVENTY-TWO!”

Before we get started… We may have ourselves another Drum Off!!! http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/will-ferrell-and-chad-smiths-next-drum-off-target-lars-ulrich-20140610

MONOLOGUE:  Our first joke was really about President Obama’s daughter turning 13??? That’s what leads the show? Ooookay! It was all made better with the “EW” impression after it.  Has anybody had a better start from the bottom and arrive in TV than Arthur? If I’m not mistaken, he started out as a page and worked his way up to become a writer, at least he had a character of a NBC Page. Now he does hilarious remotes out in NYC for the show.  “Joey Clams” is as much of a New York hockey fan as you can get. That interview and subsequent improv between Jimmy and Higgins was tremendous. Those two have way too much fun on TV. They never let a joke die, and that’s a good thing.  

It’s Tuesday, time for PROS AND CONS!  Tonight’s pros and cons were about Going to the World Cup which starts Thursday (check your local listings).  The Ghana joke at the end was just too easy. Wrote itself! Per the tradition of Tuesday night Pros and Cons, Captain Kirk, from the Roots, takes us to break! Pros and Cons: Going to the World Cup

GUEST: BIG Get for Jimmy and the Tonight Show to have both Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels on the couch together. It’s hard to look at Jeff Daniels now, and not think, The Newsroom and his character Will McAvoy… Then you see the Dumb To trailer and he’s completely the opposite of it! I love how these 2 guys and the movie studio waited to release this trailer on the Tonight Show. Big deal!! Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels Catch a Nap, Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels Talk Dumb and Dumber To

This has definitely been one of the loosest interviews, and most fun, this show has seen in quite awhile. After break we go into the same scripted lead-in to Jacobs Patience. Only the great comedians of our generations do this segment. This will be unreal… This always seems to be the most challenging of segments this show does. There’s such a mix of pre-recorded fake arm moves and live action fake arm moves. Jacobs Patience was built for Jim Carrey. Real People, Fake Arms with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels

Taylor Schilling is up next… Good luck following Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. Taylor stars in Orange is the New Black, a show on Netflix I have not seen, but hear it is absolutely fantastic. So, yeah, that’s pretty much it. 

Ed Sheeran is back on the show after making his first appearance on the old Late Night show. I vaguely remember that, but there’s been a lot of artists who’ve made their first appearance on Jimmy’s show. One that comes to mind is Elbow.  Ed, (one of the greatest TV shows by the way on NBC 10 years or so ago about a bowling alley lawyer), played “Sing” from his new album and man was it fun! A perfect ending to the show.

Seventy-two shows in and tonight’s had a feel 100% like the old late night show. No holding back from goofiness, and goofiness we’d never see on other late night shows, (except Craig Ferguson, but does he really count?). A great, great show. 

Episode 71

SEVENTY-ONE!!

Hope you had a nice weekend… HEY! JIMMY’S BACK!!

MONOLOGUE:  Let’s just jump straight to the new Twitter accounts that came from the new CIA twitter. My favorite might have been the Census one where it read “RT if you live in America” CIA Sends Their First Tweet, Miss Nevada Crowned Miss USA -- Monologue

This reporter clip writing on her iPad during her standup was hilarious! Sometimes you can’t write funny stuff like that. Jimmy’s improv after that on the etch-a-sketch was great as well.  Moving on to some Miss America jokes? Or is it Miss USA? Or is it Miss United States? Is Sandra Bullock in it? I don’t know patents…

I like when Jimmy gives it to the viewers to do something and be apart of the show. The latest installment is sending a dance video in using the hashtag Tonight Show Dance for their shows in Orlando next week. They did this before with the mom video game videos on Youtube earlier in the Tonight Show run, when the show was kinda awkward and people were getting used to Jimmy and his antics. Now Jimmy and his antics are in full force like they were for the old Late Night Show.

BOTTOM OF THE CHARTS is always fun. Mainly to hear Jimmy do impressions of people while singing hit songs. Tom Browkaw singing “Talk Dirty To Me” was hilarious. As was “I’ll Make Love To You” by 20 Timid Men. Confession, when my friend saw this bit for the first time, he thought these were real…

HIGGINS AND HIS SHAGGY IMPRESSION! Bottom of the Charts: Arnold Schwarzenegger Covers Let it Go

TIGHTS PANTS!!! I saw this on twitter and didn’t think it was actually happening and it is!!! Fantastic! Fun fact about the Will Ferrell version, the original: Will did that all in one take and they didn’t rehearse it. Still funny Will Ferrell and Jimmy Fallon Fight Over Tight Pants (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon), but back to tonight, with Jennifer Lopez, who was just tremendous! Owned the part. Glad this brought this bit over from the Late Night Show… Seventy-one shows in and we’re still seeing old Late Night bits make their way into the rotation. Models and Buckets anyone? Carpet Samples?! I could use some audience games! "Tight Pants" with Jimmy Fallon & Jennifer Lopez

GUESTS: Clint Eastwood was the first guest and looking a little old. Crazy his first time on the Tonight Show was on that same stage with Carson. Clint Eastwood has become a pretty good director. We all know the success of Million Dollar Baby, and Space Cowboys…wait…that meant to be two sentences. From the trailers I’ve seen, Jersey Boys looks to be another winner for Eastwood. Of course they’d show a clip with the most recognizable Jersey Boys Song “Walk Like a Man.”  

Jack White… What to say about this guy... He’s amazing. Jimmy explaining the vinyl and how he designed the record is amazing. There’s a hidden track on the vinyl, and there’s a hidden hologram. This guy is not the cutting edge of guitar technique yet keeps it old school. This vinyl is just unbelievable. It can do so many things! IT’S LIKE AN IPHONE!! If you watch any link, this is the one to watch Jack White's Ultra LP is Full of Firsts

They came back from commercial showing the hologram as the vinyl spins on the record player. Very cool. The song Jack White sang totally has the feel of Jack White, and it was crazy. Sad not to see his sister on the drums. 

Episode 70

SEVENTY!!

MONOLOGUE:  Jimmy opens with some comments on the NBA Finals and the A/C going out. Temperatures reached 90+ degrees, and I can tell you, in that arena, in those locker rooms, it wouldn’t be comfortable. Onward we go with more sports jokes about California Chrome, the horse bidding to become a triple crown winner, who will also be competing in a hot temperature environment. Had some good ending jokes. EWWW

THANK YOU NOTES: A classic edition of Thank You Notes with hilarious improv between Jimmy and Higgins. These guys are awesome and this segment is a great segment on a Friday, giving you a reason to watch at the end of the week. Thank You Notes: Old Belts, Justin Bieber

Love/Hate how this “EWW” character has such traction with the fans. I don’t really like the sketch, but I love when Jimmy does it outside of the sketch, like tonight when he introduced Channing Tatum in the EWWW voice

GUESTS: Channing Tatum is a man. Is it strange for anyone else to listen to these two guys only talk about their babies… Yet it’s awesome. These guys are real people!! Pretty sweet improv with Tariq and Channing beat boxing. Only on the Tonight Show. I wonder if there’s a movie Jimmy didn’t like. Channing Tatum Shows Off His Beatboxing Skills

The last time Jimmy did one of these Arm Wrestling Challenges was with Jason Statham, and the two couldn’t keep it together. It was hilarious. This next version didn’t disappoint. The jokes are just so, not fitting, to the mood of the moment, it’s what makes it great!  But none of these silly bites, like this arm wrestling bit, wouldn’t be as great as they are without the full commitment of these actors. To see them both break again tonight was hilarious in and of itself… Dick Tugnuts. Jimmy Fallon and Channing Tatum Arm Wrestle

Joshua Topolsky’s first appearance on the Tonight Show. He was a staple on the old Late Night Show giving all of us the latest and greatest technology. Really interesting stuff, and this guy knows it all. It’s also really cool Channing Tatum stuck around for this segment. The ability to change focus of a picture is really really cool. Crazy that virtual reality headset Jimmy and Channing Tatum played with. Technology is here people!Joshua Topolsky Demonstrates Sony's Project Morpheus

Last up was stand up comedian Julian McCollough. Not a lot of comics have performed standup on Jimmy’s Tonight Show. Ooooo quick with the Kansas jokes, but every last one of them are true. McCollough is another great example of comics who can be really funny while keeping it clean. There are few out there that can pull it off, and he’s one of them. 

Episode 69

SIXTY-NINE!

MONOLOGUE: Pretty standard set of jokes from Jimmy and the gang tonight. From President Obama working out to another clip of someone horrifically guessing a puzzle on Wheel of Fortune, there where some moments of laughter held by all. President Obama Lifts Weights -- Monologue Plus any time Higgins retires and comes back is always a good time. NFL Super Bowl Gets a New Logo -- Monologue

HASHTAGS: This segment is always the highlight of the week on Fallon. This week’s hashtag: WorstSummerJob. And there are some good ones in here! Hashtags: #WorstSummerJob. Also glad to see this segment got a little more running time than it has in the past weeks. People love hearing about other people’s craziness. 

GUESTS: Has Mike Myers aged any? That haircut makes him look like he’s still in his SNL days! It’s amazing. You don’t see Mike Myers on TV often, but his interviews are always fun! The interview opened with him and Jimmy doing a Liverpool impression, classic. Then they talk about all the catchphrases Mike Myers has started… And he really has come up with a lot. PARTY ON DUDE! Mike Myers gets his own stamp in Canada?! How cool is that?! Except it doesn’t impress his mom. Mike Myers' Mom Is Not Impressed by His Face on a Stamp. 

Back from break we see some Made-For-TV Movie posters where Jimmy and Mike Myers starred side-by-side. Don’t believe we’ve seen this segment on the Tonight Show, but we’ve seen it a lot on the old Late Night Show.  Made-for-TV Movie Posters with Mike Myers Good chance for some improv on this segment. The highlight was the Longest Hug.

Next, was Neil deGrasse Tyson, host of Cosmos. They first talked about the Bowling bit they all did awhile back… It was good stuff. It’s 14 minutes but it’s hilarious https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h0JSrgwahY.  Next he talks about the show’s ratings. Neil deGrasse Tyson Doesn't Want to Lose to Duck Dynasty

Damon Albarn was the musical guest tonight. I had never heard of him before, but he totally had that English feel to him. Damon Albarn: Lonely Press Play

Kind of a letdown show after the greatness that was Wednesday night's hilarity ball, but Jimmy is still solid entertainment at the 10:30pm hour!

Episode 68

SIXTY-EIGHT!

A little late tonight due to the incredible OT thriller of a Game One of the Stanley Cup Final, but that’s a different blog for a different time.

MONOLOGUE: Decent start to the monologue, very Leno-esque, more on that after this sentence. “It’s the first burger where you need a hug!” Hilarious moment with old Tonight Show band leader Kevin Eubanks where he did his trademark laugh, and thought Jimmy was Leno. It was a small little gag where Eubanks did his joke, and walked off the stage. Hilarious and good to see ‘Kev’ back on the Tonight Show.  Kevin Eubanks Crashes The Tonight Show -- Monologue

We didn’t even get a chance to breath from that comedy joke before we got an appearance from Hashtag, the Fallon Panda, after a joke about the World Cup and an actual Panda predicting the winners of the games (Much like the Octopus from the last World Cup, for you soccer fans). A Baby Panda Will Predict the 2014 World Cup Winner -- Monologue 

The hits keep coming! We go into an audience bit where 2 members of the audience want Jimmy to do the Gangnam Style dance. The joke that started this was that the video on youtube has over 2 billion views. After the two audience members try and get Jimmy to do the dance, we get an appearance from the Today Show’s Matt Lauer, where he gave us the line of the week, “Stop beating around the bush, listen to your audience, listen to that man. It’s for his wife. Now I gotta get up early for the Today Show, so cut the BULL SH*T.” Amazing cameo from Matt Lauer! Perks of taping in 30 Rock. Jimmy Does the Gangnam Style Dance

Lastly, we get a great closing joke with an America’s Got Talent clip of host Nick Cannon when kicked a guy in the groin. “Well America, we had a good run!”

IN REPLY TO was next, a fun little Twitter related segment. Some good zingers. In Reply To: Godzilla, New York Rangers, McDonald's

GUESTS: Tom Cruise was first up, can’t see him without thinking Ethan Hunt or a guy who makes the same movie, every movie. How much free time does Tom Cruise have where he makes sure he watches a movie a day? Tom Cruise Watches One Movie Each Day Ok, so this movie Edge of Darkness looks pretty awesome. Emily Blunt isn’t half bad in it, but I thought I saw this movie when it was called Inception.  I love that a movie star as big as Tom Cruise plays games with Jimmy and cracks raw eggs on his head. What other show would Tom Cruise do this on!? 

Face Breakers is an awesome new game! I love this thing! It involves throwing things and makes a mess, and Jimmy gets super competitive. Face Breakers with Tom Cruise

HOLD ON…There’s more Kardashian type children!?!? Where did these girls come from? I’m so confused! How is this the first I’m seeing and hearing of these people. I did some Wiki research to try and figure out this family. Kendall and Kylie are sisters and are half sisters to Kim, Khole and Kourtney. Geez, they all have K names. Anyway, back to the interview… Oh, it’s over? Darn. I wanted to hear more about how these girls got on the Tonight Show. Stupid research! 

MUSICAL GUEST was Chrissie Hynde, best known for her work as the leader of the Pretenders. Thing I got from this performance, is something about dark sunglasses. 

All in all, this was a terrific show! Hilarious and on point! 

(I did more research on the Kardshian/Jenner thing, and I totally get it now. You can all sleep well now.)

Episode 67

SIXTY-SEVEN!!!

MONOLOGUE: I’m sure someone tells Jimmy to open the monologue with Rob Ford jokes, but the question is who… Is it A.D. Miles (the show’s head writer) or does it go all the way up to Lorne Michaels?  Solid monologue filled with an Obama impression on living in NYC after his presidency and wanting hot pockets. President Obama May Move to New York, Apple Unveils Yosemite -- Monologue An appearance from Mark from the Roots on Teleportation Juice (a bottle of peach schnapps). The Roots' Mark Invents Teleportation, Marijuana Coffee -- Monologue And Higgins being silly, talking about sleeping with the Hamburgler.  

PROS and CONS:  The actual pros and cons weren’t the funniest part of this segment, but rather the throwback to monologue jokes. I think this is what makes Jimmy and his show so great. Once they first say the joke, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the end of the gag - because, by golly, you might hear it again, or some version of it. And of course, at the end of the segment, on the musical bump to break we hear the excellent transition from the Pros and Cons music to their bump song… And we see Mark talking to a Star Trek character See! A joke continues well after it was done) Pros and Cons: Horse Racing in New York

GUESTS:  Jonah Hill, starting the interview off in a way we’ve never really seen on a Late Night talk show. A shame really the crowd wasn’t prepared for an apology from Jonah on his altercation with the paparazzi earlier this week and cheered when Jonah said he had something to say. Jimmy does a great job of breaking the quietness and transition by saying “Thanks, Jonah, for coming out” which, may have been unintentional, but whether it was or not, it was a great way to go from this three minute apology address from Jonah back to the fun of the interview. Jonah Hill Practices His NASCAR Grand Marshal Skills

After the break we see a normal Jonah Hill, definitely seemed freer having issued that apology, and told some great stories filming 22 Jump Street.

Next, was Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. I watched a NBC News special on this guy back when he worked in the Obama Administration and the dude is a workhorse. In this interview, we saw a much looser version of Emanuel. Sorta like a Brian Williams in that, he really does have a funny side to the serious business side. I liked how Emanuel and Jimmy rehashed the Polar Plunge back in November. With Jimmy promising to take the Tonight Show on the road more, (will be in Orlando in a couple weeks at Universal Studios), I was happy to see him agree to take the show to Chicago. Whenever Conan did shows in that city, they were tremendous and the crowd really took to it.

Musical guest, Soundgarden, did not disappoint! The last few time’s I’ve heard Chris Cornell, he’s sung very mellow and sad, but he rocked out tonight and it was an incredible performance.

Episode 66

Hello all! It’s been a few weeks since we last met, but I’m back and better than ever! Work took over the last month, but it feels good to be back and here’s a few links of some highlights that was missed. Can’t miss links are the Will Ferrell “Drum-off” links. As well as the Lip Flip and Nip Sync.

Charades with Charlize Theron and Josh Hartnett

Will Ferrell and Chad Smith Talk About Their Rivalry

Will Ferrell and Chad Smith Drum-Off

Nip Syncing with Terry Crews

Lip Flip with Drew Barrymore

Mets Bucket Hat Guy Visits "The Tonight Show"

“SIXTY-SIX!!!!”

Here we are, three months into Jimmy’s run as host of the Tonight Show. Curious to how he’s doing? Well, it’s going well, don’t expect a six month firing anytime soon… http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/nbcs-tonight-show-has-best-may-in-demos-since-2009-solid-sweep-for-abcs-jimmy-kimmel-1201198544/

MONOLOGUE:  I love how the Montreal Canadians made a deal with Jimmy Fallon on an NHL series but my goodness, these pictures are great http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/11017184/canadiens-send-sad-mascot-montreal-pay-bet-jimmy-fallon. To make things better, we have story time with Jimmy about him going to a bar in Montreal and seeing his friend on a mechanical bull… Well, the Canadians and Yuppi make life even greater! Jimmy Wins New York Rangers NHL Bet, Malia Obama Goes to Prom  -- Monologue

Does anyone have a count of how many times Higgins has retired and come back after a horrifically hilarious one liner?  The writers are on fire in this monologue. A week off does wonders.

A late night talk show staple is outdoor remotes. It’s something Jimmy doesn’t really do a lot of, and I think he needs to do it more. Conan excels in this area. But whenever Jimmy has celebrities out in the streets of New York talking to people, asking them their thoughts on themselves without the people realizing who it is, it’s hilarious. We’ve seen Matt Harvey and Robinson Cano do it, now put Ryan Lewis on the list.  Ryan Lewis Asks Music Fans About Ryan Lewis

GUESTS: Rickey Gervais is a funny dude. His genuine belly laugh is the best in biz and we saw that in the latest installment of Word Sneak. I love this game! Word Sneak with Ricky Gervais

Next up is Ansel Elgort. Made famous, starring in the movie Divergent. I haven’t seen it, therefore I don’t know who he is, but he was a good guest and had a great story about trying to say ‘Hi” to Jimmy over the weekend but couldn’t. Plus he can tap dance!

Miranda Lambert finished the show. But let’s be real here… You couldn’t take your eyes off the guy with the crazy spike mohawk. And of course… He was the bass player.