Monday night, Jimmy Fallon will make his 11:30 p.m. time-slot debut as host of The Tonight Show and for #FalPals everywhere: not much will change.
According to a YouTube “Ask Jimmy” segment [15], viewers and fans can look forward to all of the Fallon favorites they’ve grown to love.
For instance, writer and comedian Steve Higgins will still be on the show. Higgins was Fallon’s announcer from Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and is a friendly sidekick to Jimmy. They often bounce jokes off each other.
The Roots, Fallon’s in-house band known for adding music and character to the show, will also come to The Tonight Show.
The same crew will be producing the show as well.
“I couldn’t do it with anyone else. They’re the best,” said Fallon in “Ask Jimmy.” “They make me look good.”
Each Friday, Fallon will write his iconic “Thank You Notes,” where he writes clever thank-you’s to people and objects and situations.
“Hashtags” are sticking around, too. This is Fallon’s Twitter-driven engagement with viewers: he asks FalPals to tweet things using themed hashtags (like #WorstAdvice and #PolarVortexSongs) and picks his favorites to read on the show.
Fallon is following the footsteps of comedic-greats like Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, and many could argue that Fallon has undoubtedly been groomed by NBC to take the reigns he’ll inherit Monday night.
Fallon was a cast member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live for six years. He also co-hosted the “Weekend Update” with award-winning actress, writer, comedian and producer, Tina Fey. On SNL, Fallon was known for his celebrity impressions, and a tendency to break character by laughing during tapings.
When he left SNL in 2004, he turned to the movie industry. He starred in such films as Taxi, Fever Pitch and Factory Girl. It wasn’t until 2008 when NBC announced he would take over Conan O’Brien’s late-night talk show the following year.
Though there was initial skepticism because of his age, Fallon quickly acquired a friendly, likable rapport with viewers of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.
Fallon will turn 40 in September, and is the youngest person to host The Tonight Show.
