The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

I was one of the very few people who thought Jimmy Fallon wasn't really that bad on SNL. He could be funny when the material was right. In his talk show, he's funny *only* when he breaks out of script and goes with the flow of the conversation, which happens rarely. When he sticks to the questions and talking points on his cards, you're in for the same dull snorefest mediocrity that passes for a talk show nowadays.

I realize that the days of Johnny Carson, or even David Letterman, are gone. This is a different era. I also realize that American talk shows are different from the others, e.g. British talk shows, where the guests are the real stars, and the hosts only guide them and try to bring out the best in them. No, in American talk shows, the hosts are the stars (remember Ellen, anyone?) and the guests are only seen as a nuisance who steal from their airtime.

I say talk show, and there is indeed a lot of talk (about nothing, mostly) but what annoys me is how superficial it all comes off. An actor comes on, for instance, someone you like, to talk about his latest movie. But after 10 minutes of chit chat, you never get any insights about the actor, or his movie, or anything at all. It's just a lot of pointless nonsense. If these guests are coming on to promote their stuff, they should be aware that they're not promoting anything.

If you watch regularly for a few episodes, you notice quite a few patterns as well, and they're not good: A good many minutes every episode is "Thank you for coming here." "Thank you for having me." Thank you for thanking me." Thanks for saying that." etc.

Then you have the incredible amount of (not-so-)hidden product placement. Jimmy makes a joke about a brand of candy, let's say. For two weeks, sometimes for a month in a row, you'll hear jokes, songs, chat, stories, sometimes even memories that contain references to that particular candy.

It could still work, of course, if they showed a bit of effort to make the talks interesting. I mean, it's a "talk show" after all, at least that's what they call it. So perhaps it's pointless to expect much else, and settle for a few minutes of so-so entertainment. But one struggles to find even that. Jimmy comes off like a wide-eyed, rural 12-year old who is having his first trip to the city, and is surprised to hear the name of any celebrity: "Oh my God! You talked to Rihanna?!" "No way! You met Brad Pitt?! He's the most incredible human being, isn't he?!"

It's really inconceivable. They spend so much money on production, a great band, sets, staff, bring on stars and famous faces etc.... yet you don't remember anything about it 5 minutes after you watch the whole thing.

Final word, not just for Jimmy, but for all talk shows: please get rid of the games.

Jimmy Fallon has a modicum of talent and can pull off some funny bits but hosting the 60 minute TONIGHT SHOW 5 nights a week is obviously more than he can handle. He seems like an okay guy but he's an example of The Peter Principle in play.

Johnny Carson was the Gold Standard for hosting this show. He had charisma and depth. He could do political and social commentary, do comedy skits and handle all kinds of interviews from the serious to the silly. I still watch him on DVDs - stuff I've seen and enjoyed before.

Leno was good and usually worth staying up to watch. Politically, he leaned left but Obama was easy fodder for his jokes. Leno's interviewing skills didn't match Carson but he could handle man-on-the-street stuff and showed us how ignorant too many Americans are.

I've given Fallon about 10 tries but concluded he's not worth staying up for or even setting the DVR. The band is absolutely awful. Don't know what Fallon's ratings are or how long his contract runs but I will not be among his viewers.

This is absolutely the most pathetic version of the tonight show I've ever seen, fallon is not funny and brings no distinct impression the way the late johnny Carson and jay Leno, the set is atrocious, the lines are funny, the musicians are pathetic, joan rivers look as lost as usual and everything else is plain trash, I Remember when I Was the tonight show with johnny Carson back in the day, he has charm, style and heart that most talk shows don't have (even arsenio hall has that), but this guy is not funny, embarrassing, he is a globalist left wing garbage filth, just like the neocons, their all on the same boat, Junk, this is the worst tonight show of the last 60 years and it's a shame, because Carson and Leno truly made the show for what it is, laughter, time and honesty.

I Personally cannot wait for this fallon clown to be booted.

It started a little slow but it is a great show. I think even the guests love going. I find it funny and refreshing and you really get to know a different side of the guests. Some of the games are really silly but for the most part he is incredibly funny and respectful with both, the audience and the guests. I frankly don't see anybody competing with him. We love Conan and have for years but since Fallon started airing, we don't watch Conan anymore. On a different note, Fallon is updated and seems to be more in the loop and in the know with younger audiences.. His interaction with the Roots is very funny and the games with the celebrities are creative. I assume he has a much bigger budget than other late night talk shows for the quality of his sketches and games. He really brings it in terms of having very current guests. The segments like #hashtag, or the books to never read are hilarious. I don't love the thank you notes but it seems like people do.

Jimmy has tried to be a show of variety and class since the beginning, and I really was surprised that he managed to do that out of the big three. I honestly believed that he was going to regurgitate talking points but instead he stirred clear mostly of those things and gave a wide spectrum of audience what they want, comedy, or attempted comedy on the bad nights. Thanks Jimmy, you have proven to be consistent, I wish all the best for you if you continue your thing.