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For seemingly forever, Jay Leno has been the host of the Tonight Show, but times are changing.
Jimmy Fallon has taken over the Tonight Show, giving Jay Leno, who has hosted the show for 22 years, a well-deserved break. Fallon’s first episode premiered on Monday, Feb. 17. His premiere, with its 11.3 million views had the highest ratings the show had had in five years with the exception of Leno’s farewell which had 14.6 million views. The average Tonight Show audience this season has been 3.9 million, according to NY Daily News.
“I really don’t know how I got here.” Jimmy Fallon, as humble as ever, started his premiere with making a speech. He started by introducing himself to “those of you who are watching me for the first time, which is very possible. I’m 39 years old, I live in New York City with my beautiful wife Nancy and my daughter Winnie who’s six months old … and I love her so much.”
“At first I wasn’t to sure about this Fallon guy, but he’s a family man and that’s alright with me,” Nate Bartmen, a fan of the show said.
After that, the pace picked up and his opening show featured U2, who performed on the roof of the Rockefeller Center, and Will Smith. NY Daily News said Smith and Fallon performed an accurate representation of hip-hop history as they did familiar dances to famous songs.
Even Joan Rivers was allowed back to congratulate Fallon about his position after her 28- year exile from the show when she offended Johnny Carson.
Washington Post said The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon was similar to the “Late Night” show, which Fallon did at 12:35 a.m. after Leno. Fallon even brought his band “The Roots” from his old show as well as his announcer and psychic, Steve Higgins. A rival executive from another network confided to NY Daily News by saying “This isn’t Conan 2.0,” which was in referral to when Conan O’ Brien had tried to replace Jay Leno. “He has the broad appeal ‘Tonight’ has always had and needed.”
As part of his debut speech, Fallon said, “I just want to take care of the show for a while. If you guys let me stick around long enough, maybe I’ll get the hang of it.”
Kathy Sims, who has been an avid viewer of the Tonight Show, expressed her feelings about Fallon’s take over by saying, “He has charisma. While Leno will surely be missed I’m sure Fallon will win me over.”
So far Fallon seems to be a big hit. Viewers will have to stay tuned to see how th famous show pans out in the future.
