Well, Jimmy Fallon has completed his first week as Late Night host and as far as we’re concerned, the honeymoon is over, right? Some final thoughts on the week:
• Fallon saved his most feeble taped sketch, a Fallon-centric parody of The Hills and The City, for Friday night. Also last night, Drew Barrymore all too enthusiastically played the lame game of “Lick It For Ten.” Ugh.
• I wrote about Craig Ferguson’s interview with Archbishop Desmond Tutu earlier this week, but his most engaging, amusing, spontaneous interview this week was on Thursday night with Holly Hunter. No other current host gets more out of guests than Ferguson; no guests get more out of a host than they do from Ferguson:
• The other Jimmy, Kimmel, had the best coverage of reality TV, mocking The Bachelor and American Idol with the best jokes. But that means you have to care, on some level, about The Bachelor and American Idol.
Who’d you like best this week?
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I watched Jimmy Fallon this week. His interview with Tina Fey was so akward. I won’t be watching next week.
Jimmy’s parody of the Hills was great. Spot on. Probably one of his better shows, still, he has a way to go.
The others have their charms and I can be swayed by a good guest, but Craig is my go-to. –Although I have to say, the color pallet on Fallon’s show (i.e. a living person’s flesh tones) is a nice change of pace.
And the Roots are awesome, but as Holly Hunter pointed out, I never really notice Craig doesn’t have a band he’s so entertaining.
I tried to watch a bit of Fallon one night, and I found the experience painful. Thankfully, I’ve always enjoyed Craig’s show. Plus, as you noted, Craig is a great interviewer. He might be better than his boss, Letterman (who is also a great interviewer).
I’m happy I no longer have to pick between Conan and Craig (even though I tended to pick Craig, because I prefer his monologues). If a guest I like was on Conan, I’d watch the interview segment of Conan’s show, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to watch Fallon interview anyone. So, no more Fallon for me (because the little I experienced is already too much). Craig wins! He’s now king of his time slot.
Damn, Holly Hunter looks good!
Craig Ferguson is not only the funniest man on TV, he is also among the most intelligent, compassionate and fascinating people that I have ever seen on television. The Holly Hunter interview was great fun to watch (maybe not for Craig’s wife, who I assume is the most tolerant and understanding woman on the planet). The interview with Archbishop Tutu was pretty incredible–they managed to talk about some of the horrifying things that the Archbishop has seen while being amusing and engaging during the same interview. I don’t think that I have ever seen anybody accomplish that balance better than Craig does. By the way, if you haven’t read his fiction book, read it. It is brilliant.
I watched Jimmy most of the week, and while he started off slow, he picked it up at the end. His banter with Chace Crawford and Mario Bartelli was funny and loose. Why people like yourself Mr. Tucker refuse to let up on him I dont know. You guys act as if Johnny, Dave, Jay and all those guys were astounding right off the bat. Jimmy I believe will only get better and Craig Ferguson is a joke, he is not funny and a horrible interviewer. Go Jimmy
Craig is by far a Talent. As someone esle mentioned, he does not have a band to fall back on. The show is ALL him. Fallon is awkward and some bring up how Conan was some what awkward when he to started. The difference here is if you are familiar witth Fallon’s work over his career he has always been awkward. Great set, band, and music but not so great host. He is on par with Carson Daly…and even Carson beats him out on most points. I will stick with the OTHER Jimmy…Kimmel…..
I’m sorry, but I’m having trouble seeing Fallon being around much longer. He’s always been the poor man’s Adam Sandler in my opinion. He has never really been a funny guy for me. Even in the sketches I saw him in, he was often the “least” funny person. I think he can act, and should probably focus on getting his own production company and building on that until he can get a sense of who he really is.
Sorry Jimmy, but truth be told, they should have pushed Carson Daly up in Conan’s spot, and had you do guess spots on 30 Rock until you matured a bit more. I do like you, though, I promise!
I adore Craig Ferguson. He is the best interviewer and he is so funny. I’ve discovered after watching him for the past year he really is very intelligent. I really don’t mind that he doesn’t have a band and prefer the show be about him and his guests!
I was actually surprised by Jimmy Fallon this week. Obviously it’s going to be rough in your first week at any new job, much less hosting a show that was just vacated by an extremely popular host. His monologues are a little rough, but I think his other work is making up for it. I love the crowd interaction he does, and I think that could be a successful shtick for him.
Also, if you look at this week, his best interviews (Serena, Trump, Billy Crudup) were with the people who aren’t in his close circle of friends. Once he takes the training wheels off and starts getting real guests on, his interviews will be better because they’ll be actual “interviews” instead of a bunch of “remember when” stories.
I don’t have much about Craig and Kimmel because they’re established and they always bring the goods. Isn’t that what we expect from them?
I have always loved watching Craig Ferguson. He always talks to his guest like they have been friends forever. They don’t just focus on the movie. He seems to care about what they had for dinner or if took a trip recently. Just random things. Its refreshing to see the conversation just flow rather than being so forced.
I miss Conan. Ferguson is overrated. Like Colbert and Jon Stewart. Give me Conan any day. Jimmy Kimmel is actually pretty good. Fallon was terrible this week. I too, like color, so I’m going for NBC, because CBS is all to flat and dull picture wise for me.
I watch Jimmy couple of times he is pretty good but he has to develop his on style. he may try to copy conan just to keep some of conan’s viewers, Ferguson is lame, just another younger Letterman. I want to forget about my day and lame talk wont do it if I want serious talk I’ll go with charlie rose, did anybody saw Leno? try the sluggy is hillarious.
from what I saw of Jimmy Fallon this week, he’s TOTALLY lame. I don’t know how he can improve, there’s no style, no writers, nothing.
I never watched late night tv- except for the occasional tivo-ing of someone specific guesting on a show- until Jimmy Fallon. I watched his show all week long. I love Jimmy Fallon and I will continue to watch his show…. and only his show. Actually since I am a teacher, I tivo the show and watch it either while I am getting ready in the morning or after school sometime, but I do love it!
I thought Fallon has potential but it’s not even close to being met… Dave and Jay are old pros so Jimmy has to work hard to find his groove. I also like Kimmel a lot and think his bits/monologue are some of the best in late night.
Craig Ferguson is the unsung hero though and his quick wit makes for a very entertaining show… however I only watch him off and on for the same reason I only watch Kimmel off and on… Both shows don’t shoot in HD. Seriously, if Kimmel and Ferguson were in HD, I’d watch them with more regularity… stupid reason? Maybe, but the other late night shows look and sound SO MUCH BETTER than those 2…
The idiots that think Craig Ferguson is overrated or lame are just that idiots it makes sense that they would enjoy the idiocy of Kimmel and Fallon, who by the way is the definition of failure. I for one will stick with the comedic genius that is Craig Ferguson, does that make me a genius? No, but it makes me a hell of a lot smarter than the people who tune in to Kimmel and Fallon.
Jimmy Fallon will be gone in a couple of months, tops. Craig Ferguson is okay at best.
Then again, I’m still annoyed that Craig Kilborn bailed from TV and hasn’t been heard from again. He was better than both combined.
I only started watching Craig Ferguson a few months ago and he’s easily the freshest and funniest at his best, usually with female guests… see youtube. Conan was my favourite before, then Leno/Letterman. On seeing Kimmel with Mel Gibson I might start watching him.
Fallon is a bit painful to watch and won’t improve like Conan did. Fallon just laughs all the time and seems like a kid.
And why are the band in front of where the guests are looking? The audience seem placed to the side, to the guest’s right.
The theme music is also not rememberable in the slightest.
Jimmy Fallon was painful to watch. I miss Conan.
Craig Ferguson is the worst host of all time. Why does everyone champion this guy?
Jimmy Fallon is just as bad as Chevy Chase and Magic Johnson combined when it comes to being a talk show host.
Craig is by far the best of the three. He is constantly engaging, witty and heartfelt…with a refreshing honesty (and a little self-deprecation thrown in) that I find wins me over every night. I used to be a loyal Conan watcher but once Craig took over The Late Late Show, I think I only caught Conan when CBS had re-runs. Craig’s monologue about his own personal struggles and his perspective on celebrity is one of the best moments I’ve ever seen on television.
I’m watching Craig and not bothering with the other Two Jimmies…Sharks, Unicorns, J.K Rowling and her Pile of Money, “Has There Been A Muuuurderrrr?”…classics!
Why do I have to pick? That’s what DVR is for. I prefer the Jimmys.
Well — let’s face it. Too many late nite chatfests. We don’t need this many shows. The talent pool is weakening!
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But look, Jimmy Kimmel got New Kids on the Block to perform on his show on Monday when Leno and David and the others DIDN’T BOTHER to have them when the group’s album came out in September. Dave had U2 all week, but Jimmy stole his thunder on Monday as well as new host Jimmy Fallon’s first night by having New Kids and thousands of screaming fans on Monday. And New Kids tore it up in their performances–they’ve still got it a strong 2 decades later! Jimmy thinks more contemporary with his music guests than the other hosts, who feel like they’re stuck in 1975!
Hey now, before everyone skewers Jimmy they should all go back and watch some of Conan’s first shows! He was terrible in the beginning and had month-to-month contracts at one time his ratings were so low..And look what happened..He’s awesome now. Because they gave him time! Jimmy is funny, can throw in a quick one liner, laughs at himself (self-deprecation is always funny), and seems genuinely interested in his guests. Letterman, despite being from my alma mater, comes off as an arrogant ass. Leno is ok but his humor is sort of generic and safe..(nothing wrong with that). I don’t stay up late enough to catch Ferguson, and Kimmel is an ass as well. Conan was far and away my favorite, and hopefully Jimmy can make the show his own..I noticed signs of improvement throughout the week. He was more comfortable every show, the dance bit with Cameron Diaz was great, and the beer pong with Serena Williams was funny too..Some stuff didn’t work, and they know that (lick it for ten)..Give him time!