RSS Feeds
'Done Deal': Jimmy Fallon To Replace Conan O'Brien In '09
Posted by Molly Friedman at 10:10 AM on April 25, 2008
Rumours that notorious SNL line-flubber Jimmy Fallon might replace Conan O'Brien following his move to The Tonight Show have been floating around for over a year now. But today, Fox News adds some real substance to all the chatter by boldly reporting that "it's a done deal." Debates will inevitably and endlessly ensue regarding Fallon's ability to fill the shoes of everyone's favourite red head (with all apologies to the late Lucille Ball), especially considering Fallon's lack of experience as a writer or improviser. More details from Fox on how Fallon is handling the news and when we can expect an official announcement, after the jump.
While Fox's Roger Friedman is wildly optimistic about Falllon's upcoming arrival behind Conan's desk, his enthusiasm strikes us as a bit too gushy. As he puts it, "He's the perfect successor to Conan and should have just as big an audience when he takes the reins. Fallon is one of those great underrated performers." True, Fallon was at one time a favourite of ours, partly because he was the cutest cast member at the time, and partly because of his dead-on Barry Gibb impression. But as Tracey Morgan and other cast members infamously said, most of Jimmy's laughs were the result of messing up his lines almost every Saturday night. Understandably, Fox notes that Fallon is "said to be thrilled and ready, if not a little scared." In any case, an official announcement from NBC is reportedly scheduled for May 11th or 12th, when NBC unveils its 2008 schedule to advertisers in New York.
[Photo credit: Wireimage]
- JIMMY FALLON CINCHES CONAN'S JOB [Fox News]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
kylo4
Posted 11:03 AM 25/4/08
I'm going to be honest and say I thought this was a joke at first, as I cannot picture Jimmy Fallon going up with the likes of Letterman and Conan, or even Ferguson. He would remind me of a "Carson Daly" type show. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it turns out (if it does indeed actually happen).
kylo4
Desk_hack
Posted 10:59 AM 25/4/08
@raincoaster: Right. Plus he was on the stand-up circuit for years before that. So between that and SNL, I'm not really seeing the "lack of experience".
Desk_hack
Sleepyhead
Posted 10:40 AM 25/4/08
@Old No. 7: This is actually great news for us fans of recovering alcoholic Scotsmen who deliver off-the-cuff, stream-of-consciousness monologues every night instead of the same tired late-night TV tropes - deliver jokey monologues ripped from today's "headlines", mock local newspapers and events, read audience letters, do bad green-screen sketch, etc. Conan will be right at home in Leno's old chair.
Sleepyhead
kessler11
Posted 10:40 AM 25/4/08
This has been known for a long time. NBC has had Fallon in a hold contract for almost 2 years, thats why we haven't been subjected to any Jimmy-styled sitcoms. Thank Lord Obama
kessler11
CakeAndDeath
Posted 10:33 AM 25/4/08
Oh lawdy lawdy.
CakeAndDeath
raincoaster
Posted 10:33 AM 25/4/08
He cannot write and he cannot improvise? He must be astonishing in bed to get SNL, that's all I can say.
Nobody can replace Conan!
raincoaster
gwendemarco
Posted 10:23 AM 25/4/08
I heard it's cancelled already.
gwendemarco
Old No.7
Posted 10:15 AM 25/4/08
***buys stock in Craig Ferguson***
Old No.7
MrInBetween
Posted 12:06 PM 25/4/08
He'll be ready (to screw up) on Day One.
MrInBetween
thecomicscomic
Posted 2:15 PM 25/4/08
The Zuckers love him, as does Lorne Michaels, so the only surprise is that they've been able to keep this relatively quiet until now. And at least it's not Carson Daly. Unless you're Carson Daly and reading this, in which case, OMG TRL!?
thecomicscomic
OldTowneTavern
Posted 4:49 PM 25/4/08
I say bring on Michael Ian Black. Letterman passed on a good thing.
OldTowneTavern
nick_r
Posted 1:44 AM 26/4/08
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Episode 1:
"Hahahahhaha! Sorry... Hi, and welcome to... HAHAHAHAHA... Oh my god, I'm just-- Hi, I'm -- HAHAHAHAHAHAHA"
nick_r
cockfightbarmitzvah
Posted 2:15 AM 26/4/08
@nick_r: Hey give Jimmy a chance people. Everyone laughed off the idea of Chevy Chase and Alan Thicke hosting late night comedy talk shows when they first started too and...Oh wait.
cockfightbarmitzvah
Benovite
Posted 3:26 AM 26/4/08
I think the funniest incarnation of Weekend Update was with Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon. They had great chemistry.
About Jimmy laughing too much? Pssh, Tracey Morgan talks too much shit.
Which SNL cast member wouldn't occasionally laugh during a sketch??
Benovite
fuddes
Posted 2:59 AM 26/4/08
For some reason, I'm not seeing this as a bad idea. He's not a man of a million talents, but neither is any other late night host. They're people who have one shtick and stick to it (even Conan, whom I love). I can see Fallon filling that role pretty well. He has a good voice and a friendly persona.
fuddes
Nat99
Posted 2:46 AM 26/4/08
I remember reading these exact same comments when Conan was announced to replace Letterman. Eveybody said there was no way he would last and in his first year they said he was terrible. Now look at him , ready to take over the Tonight Show!
Nat99
Shumina
Posted 2:43 AM 26/4/08
@nick_r: And that's genius.
Shumina
Shumina
Posted 2:43 AM 26/4/08
This is one of those ideas that hits you from so far out of left field you're left wondering what the fuck just happened.
Really? Fallon?
Shumina
Dave J.
Posted 3:34 AM 26/4/08
@Nat99: Yeah, but that's because Conan was more of a non-entity: other than having written for The Simpsons and stuff like that, he was pretty much unknown. Fallon, on the other hand, has had years to stink up plenty of high-profile gigs.
Dave J.
bitfactory
Posted 4:17 AM 26/4/08
I can't figure out NBC - from the iTunes fuckup, to (basically) firing Jay Leno even though he practically printed money for them (and still does), and now this?
Leno sucks big time... but, really - wtf is up with NBC? Absolutely clueless.
bitfactory
Shumina
Posted 4:46 AM 26/4/08
@Benovite: Belushi.
Shumina
nick_r
Posted 4:45 AM 26/4/08
@Benovite: We're not talking occasionally. He couldn't keep a straight face for more than 30 seconds regardless of the sketch. I mean, come on, he nearly ruined More Cowbell with his uncontrollable giggling, and that's a capital crime.
nick_r
LooseLips
Posted 5:56 AM 26/4/08
It should have been Tom Green. He got screwed over for not landing the host of The Price Is Right. They should have given him this as a consolation
LooseLips
nick_r
Posted 7:00 AM 26/4/08
@Benovite: Of course not, and that is why I am not a professional comic.
If you want to see talent -- watch the Daily Show episode recently wherein John Oliver read a long list of scatologically-themed soldier names without breaking into so much as a grin, and all the while Jon Stewart was collapsing into hysterics. That's comedy.
nick_r
Benovite
Posted 6:40 AM 26/4/08
@nick_r: Would you be able to keep a straight face during one of, if not THE funniest sketches in all of SNL's history?
I think not, my friend.
@Shumina: Belushi was probably too doped up to break character and laugh during a sketch. Besides, did any of those cats[during those first seasons] accidentally laugh during their sketches?
The first time Lindsay Lohan hosted SNL, which is an awesome episode, practically every cast member laughed during every sketch! The Debbie Downer skit definitely comes to mind.
Benovite
Oldboy
Posted 12:34 PM 27/4/08
@OldTowneTavern: You know,OTT,I rather liked Vince Vaughn when he subbed for Letterman.But of course he's a movie star, so it won't be happening.
Oldboy
MCU
Posted 2:28 AM 28/4/08
Actually, I am completely behind this.
But only if he hosts in the character of his brief Band of Brothers appearance.
MCU
YourGoldKeith
Posted 2:25 AM 29/4/08
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Opening Monologue: "Hi, welcome to Late Night! I'm Tina Fey!"
YourGoldKeith
roahboah
Posted 4:52 AM 1/5/08
If he can keep his hands out of his artfully-mussed hair for five minutes, I'll be dipped in sh%t.
roahboah