Kind of Off Topic: Jimmy Fallon's New Set + Premiere Episode

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3444938/board/flat/230776458?d=230776458#2 30776458

First off, please listen. I'm not jumping into any bandwagon. I'm giving my honest opinion. I genuinely think that he's a nice guy. He makes his guest comfortable and has fun with them. However, he has no edge. Every time he's interviewing a guest, he seems to be fanboying it, gushing too much and kissing their ass. It's probably his shtick but it just doesn't for me. I prefer my hosts to have a toughness to them and isn't afraid to get into their heads, much like how Jon Stewart and Conan would do. But that's just me.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3444938/board/flat/230776458?d=230798326#2 30798326

http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/3034170-the-tonight-show -starring-jimmy-fallon/page-116#entry16541396

If Jimmy is number one with his unfunny bits, bad monologues and inability to interview, I don't see how Colbert who is very witty, has humor where you might need to think, will appeal to the late night audience. Plus, Colbert doesn't have the "gosh golly, I'm not very talented, but I'm cute", thing that Jimmy has had since he was in SNL steering up skits and the news, by giggling like a child who has no experience on stage. Then again, when simple minded sitcoms, and reality tv are winning the ratings war, Jimmy makes sense.

I don't get the appeal of Jimmy, he was awful on SNL. I get why celebrities love him, since he ass kisses like crazy, but I almost feel embarrassed for him when he interviews, or does his very childish and obvious comedy skits.

http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/3034170-the-tonight-show -starring-jimmy-fallon/page-116#entry16537197

I tuned in again last night, and just found the "pro's and cons", obvious and not funny at all. The writing from this show is like SNL, which mostly sucks lately. I think Jimmy shines on some of the music skits, but otherwise, the writing is awful, he can't interview and can't deliver jokes at all.

I agree that if a female was as inept as he is, she would first of all never have the job, and second, be criticized to death. I think Jimmy is not criticized a lot because he is a professional brown noser! He "loves" everyone, kisses butt, and therefore everyone loves him back, but he really is no way very good at this job.

When I think back to him being on SNL, he was not even good at doing skits or reading the news. He would laugh all of the time, and break out of character, ruining the skits.

I think Jimmy got as far as he has by being "cute" and the little likable altar boy type. He also knows how to leap on feed off of others' talent, like Tina Fey. Tina Fey is way way more talented and wrote all of the news bits, Jimmy sat there looking cute, laughing and barely delivering the lines. But yet, he is given talk shows, because he is a man, and heaven forbid a woman shoujld be hosting a show on late night!

http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/3034170-the-tonight-show -starring-jimmy-fallon/page-116#entry16538145

Jimmy Fallon is prominently featuring bits that would have been considered tired on the old Steve Allen Tonight Show (Pros and Cons and Thank You Notes). His monologues are dull and his riffing with his sidekick isn't nearly as funny as he seems to think it is. He has an engaging personality, but it's buried underneath his relentless fanboy-ness. Carson was a dick, but you could see the intelligence behind every joke and pointless celebrity interview. Fallon needs to relax a little and let some of his natural warmth come through.

But make no mistake about it: Fallon's ability to integrate his eclectic musical sensibility into his show is a huge step forward from Carson, Leno and all the other Tonight Show hosts before him. Last night's musical comedy extravaganza would have been unimaginable on any other show.

Think about that last half hour:

Chad Smith/Will Ferrell drum-off

Red Hot Chili Peppers (w/Ferrell on cowbell!) performing Blue Oyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) the Reaper"

RHCP and the Roots performing Parliament/Funkadelic's "Standing on the Verge of Getting it On"

RHCP and the Roots performing "Give it Away"

This is amazing, spectacular television, and I'm willing to suffer through Fallon's growing pains in the Big Chair if we get more moments like this. Yes, it may seem that Fallon is only cool because the Roots are cool, and his musical guests are cool--but remember, it's Fallon's taste that's being reflected. Give him some more time.

http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/3034170-the-tonight-show -starring-jimmy-fallon/page-116#entry16529006

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/television/2014/05/19/140519crte _television_nussbaum

(Unfortunately it's behind a paywall, otherwise I would link it here.) Basically it says there's a disconnect between his charming persona put forward by puff-piece articles and the jokes he tells on the show--like the umpteenth fat joke about Chris Christie. It also points out how he tends to drive bits down to the ground fast (like the panda--funny the first night, got old the second night), and how he gushes over everyone and doesn't seem to have an opinion beyond "That's so cool." The author even says that if a female host were to have these qualities, she would be torn apart--which I agree with.

The article even points out that ?uestlove may be the band leader, though his presence is what gives Jimmy credibility, to the point where it feels ?uest should be the host. Also this observation:

<blockquote>In a way, Fallon harks back to Ed Sullivan, who used his power as a white host to feature African-American artists, although in this case, the polarities are reversed: instead of a kingmaker, Fallon's a supplicant. He absorbs the potency of the guests, rather than the other way around.

I know there's still a few fans of the show on here, but the article really called to attention a lot of what's made the show unappealing to me lately. I've said before that the quality took a nosedive after the Barack Obama appearance (or even the Indianapolis shows), and Jimmy's &quot;I love everyone and everything and things are so great and so awesome&quot; shtick is beginning to grate. Sure, he's great for viral bits on Youtube the next morning, but the show overall has become stale. It's sad to see, considering he was doing some real interesting stuff on Late Night. I remember them trying new things every week--what else besides the panda has been new? The Fallonventions segment is a GE ad in disguise, just like the Ford contest was (though the truck thing was much more underhanded and sneaky). I know that humor is subjective and all, but I've lost interest in the show.</blockquote>

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3444938/board/flat/230776458?d=230839689#2 30839689

I agree with you and the other threads imo hes not edgy or his monologues don't have that sting that Jay Leno has, Jay Leno can do a monologue and have you laughing or going wow did he said that. Fallon constant laughing and gigging at people gets annoying especially if there's a comedian on the show. Fallon is a nice guy and he can do some good impressions hes just not my cup of tea for Late Night. I don't really like the Game show segments on his show sometimes they are ok but not every night. Nbc has a weak Late Night line up Jimmy or Seth is not funny at all.

I miss the Jay and Conan line up better

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