Last night, Jimmy Fallon’s third show was by far his best yet. He was ad-libbing more easily (talking with guest Cameron Diaz about being a diva on Sesame Street, he spontaneously invented the new “Don’t Look At Me, Elmo” doll) and I chuckled at his new gesture when a monologue joke actually gets a laugh–he mimes bowling a strike.
Sure, still too much young-and-with-it awkwardness: reading Diaz questions from Twitter users? How Barbara Walters of you, Jimmy! The dance-off with Diaz was kind of fun, if a little too opening-of-every-Ellen De Generes-show. But overall, a definite improvement.
Meanwhile, Craig Ferguson’s guest last night was Archbishop Desmond Tutu, not exactly a mainstay of late-night entertainment. Ferguson’s conversation with the clergyman was by turns serious, funny, and sometimes both simultaneously (“When you don’t forgive, frequently you feel it in your tum-tum,” said the Archbishop, patting his own tummy) as they talked about race, God, good and evil. And nagging wives. All without reading from cue cards or notes. “I think you’re crazy!” Tutu chuckled at one point. Craig also told an excellent chess joke involving bishops.
Now, I am not for a second suggesting that late-night hosts should start booking more serious guests to boost their cred — even Ferguson said this hour contained “all the stuff that you don’t come to the show for.” Nor am I saying Fallon was the lesser host for yukking it up with Diaz while Ferguson chatted up a Nobel Peace Prize winner. These guys both make their living being, as Craig described himself last night, “a vulgar lounge entertainer.”
What I am saying is that Ferguson did a damn fine job interviewing Bishop Tutu without being intimidated or fawning, and in so doing, demonstrated the range of tones and subject matter that can be addressed on late-night TV to which Fallon can only aspire. No, I’m not sitting here hoping Fallon books the Archbishop of Canterbury on his show to demonstrate his chops and competitiveness (although, Jimmy, there’s a goldmine of comedy in all that some-churches-seceding-from-the-church thing going on in the Episcopal church).
But every time a late-night host stretches a little, whether it was Ferguson last night, or when David Letterman made his recent public apology to the late Bill Hicks’ mother as she sat next to him, these late nights get a little warmer, a little more nourishing, a little more welcoming.
I watched Fallon’s first two shows and thought they were pretty good. Now I’m kind of regretting I missed it last night. People have been slagging Fallon pretty hard, but I think he’s ramped up his game considerably in a short amount of time. I’m not saying he still doesn’t have room for improvement, but Conan was nervous on air for almost a year. Say what you want about Fallon, at least he’s comfortable in front of a camera.
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I agree and thought the 3rd show was the best yet. I was highly entertained, dancing with Diaz was great! The Crudup interview was one of my faves! Great job Jimmy, keep getting better.
Before going to bed, I stumbled across Craig and Bishop Tutu, and I was, like, “Wha-?” But I stuck around because I had a feeling Craig could pull it off, and he did. Between the two of them was an amazing mix of the silly and the serious, the funny and the enlightening, that you rarely see on television without really searching hard for it.
What Craig was able to do is something a host can do after a good amount of experience wears down some of the ego and fear, making a person open about his/her limitations and strengthening his/her sense of curiosity. That helps no matter who the guest is. We’ll see in the coming years when Jimmy settles into that. To start a show during sweeps like he’s done is unfair, frankly, with so much pressure on him. Hopefully, he’ll survive it and mature into a really interesting host.
fallon was alright…he needs to work on his mumbling though.
i thought the bowling thing was stupid. too much trying to be like conan, and it wasnt even as funny as something conan would do. he should stop that
That guy has to be the most huggable archbishop ever.
I went to my moms house yesterday. She was watching GSN. She always does. They were running the first week of Password PLUS with Alan Ludden. He had hosted Password for years, but he was back in an important career move. He was awkward and nervous. It showed.
My point is forget Jimmy Fallon’s first week. It’s going to be nervous and awkward. Skip to his 50th or 100th show and you’ll have a better idea if the show lasts or not.
Why aren’t we talking about Jimmy Kimmell–his show is HILARIOUS! He’s the best one on late night!
I was glued to the TV during Tutu’s interview.
gotta love ferguson. he will easily move earlier once dave rides off into the sunset. he is a class act. conan, not so much. we rag on fallon, but the real person we should be worrying about is conan. that guy is not right in the head. i can’t see him in the palm springs time slot.
The interview with Archbishop Tutu was excellent. Ferguson knows his stuff and has the inteligence to keep up a conversation with such an honorable man. I really believe that Ferguson can interview anyone. The other late night hosts will always be scrambling with cue cards and desk notes (which Ferguson doesn’t use). The interview was so insightful that I was so bummed when it was over. I give Ferguson credit for keeping it real. If you’re not watching this show, you are missing some great television.
Craig’s interview with Archbishop Tutu was extraordinary. I can’t believe he’s not interviewed more often on U.S. TV. That he can giggle so much after the horrors he has witnessed amazes me. I could’ve watched them talk all night. It’s to CBS’ credit that Craig was able to do the interview. He’s obviously very intelligent, which you can’t say about many late-night/talk show hosts.
The truly important question here is what the HELL is Cameron Diaz wearing?????
Who is up this late? College kids that should be studying I guess. Maybe unemployed people? Insomniacs? I have no idea. But yeah, you have to give Fallon a chance. Week 1 means nothing.
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Aww, that dance off was cute