The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
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The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

"Tonight's just getting started."

5.8
Yr 2014
Status Returning Series
Comedy Talk
Your Verdict
Unrated

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Series Brief

Overview

After Jay Leno's second retirement from the program, Jimmy Fallon stepped in as his permanent replacement. After 42 years in Los Angeles the program was brought back to New York.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 68 /100

Critics greeted Jimmy Fallon's arrival as host of The Tonight Show with a mixture of enthusiasm and caution, noting that the transition highlighted both his distinct talents and his limitations in traditional late-night formats. Many reviewers felt that the customary extended opening monologue failed to play to his strengths, especially when the joke writing fell short.

At the same time, commentators widely agreed that Fallon's signature energetic charm, good-sport attitude, and talent for musical sketches gave the broadcast substantial viral appeal and strong second-day viewing value. While some critics voiced disappointment over a perceived lack of originality compared to his previous Late Night tenure, others welcomed his debut as the energetic arrival of a host well-suited to entertain a modern generation.

“a beacon of things to come — and of a really great comedian coming into his own for the entertainment of a new generation”

“the host segued into a couple of bits with serious second-day-viewing potential”

“Apparently, it's a rule that every Tonight Show host has to do an extended monologue, even though the format does not show Fallon to his best advantage.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Peacock Premium
US
Peacock Premium Plus
US
Crave Amazon Channel
CA
Show 3 more
NBC
US
fuboTV
US
Crave
CA
Why fans love it

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon prioritizes playfulness over traditional interview structures. The program leans heavily into comedy games that involve high-profile guests, shifting the focus from scripted anecdotes to spontaneous interaction. This approach centers the experience on the energy between the host and his participants rather than formal conversation.

Returning the production to New York City changed the atmosphere of the long-running franchise. By integrating a live audience directly into the nightly segments, the show maintains a collegiate, interactive pace. Performers like Kelly Clarkson often participate in these creative experiments, contributing to a tone that feels closer to a variety hour than a standard late-night talk show.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 2
Longest run 2417 eps
Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon
as Self - Host
2417 episodes
Steve Higgins
Steve Higgins
as Self - Announcer
2417 episodes
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
as Self
6 episodes
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
as Self - Guest
6 episodes
Meghan Trainor
Meghan Trainor
as Self - Musical Guest
8 episodes
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey
as Self - Guest
9 episodes
Martin Short
Martin Short
as Self
7 episodes
Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper
as Self - Guest
6 episodes
Show 67 more
Julianne Moore as Self 6 episodes Fred Armisen as Self 9 episodes Shawn Mendes as Self - Musical Guest 7 episodes Anthony Anderson as Self 8 episodes Dakota Johnson as Self 7 episodes Tina Fey as Self - Guest 6 episodes Adam Sandler as Self - Guest 8 episodes Anthony Mackie as Self 6 episodes Kevin Jonas as Self - Guest 6 episodes Marlon Wayans as Self - Guest 6 episodes Andy Cohen as Self - Guest 6 episodes Drew Barrymore as Self - Guest 10 episodes Liam Neeson as Self - Guest 8 episodes Daniel Radcliffe as Self 6 episodes Kenan Thompson as Self 9 episodes Nick Jonas as Self 14 episodes Ariana Grande as Self - Guest 7 episodes Maya Rudolph as Self - Guest 7 episodes Seth Rogen as Self - Guest 6 episodes Michael Strahan as Self - Guest 15 episodes Chelsea Handler as Self - Guest 10 episodes Demi Lovato as Self - Musical Guest 11 episodes Bono as Self - Musical Guest 6 episodes The Edge as Self - Musical Guest 6 episodes Adam Clayton as Self - Musical Guest 6 episodes Larry Mullen Jr. as Self - Musical Guest 6 episodes Selena Gomez as Self - Guest/Musical Guest 6 episodes Chris Pratt as Self - Guest 6 episodes Will Ferrell as Self - Guest 10 episodes Finn Wolfhard as Self 7 episodes Martha Stewart as Self - Guest 8 episodes Ricky Gervais as Self - Guest 8 episodes Millie Bobby Brown as Self - Co-Host 10 episodes Andrew Rannells as Self - Guest 8 episodes Jon Hamm as Self 10 episodes Gaten Matarazzo as Self - Guest 8 episodes Jerry Seinfeld as Self 9 episodes Will Smith as Self - Guest 7 episodes Nate Bargatze as Self - Guest 7 episodes Whoopi Goldberg as Self 8 episodes Pete Davidson as Self 8 episodes Dwayne Johnson as Self - Guest 9 episodes Kevin Bacon as Self - Guest 7 episodes Jim Parsons as Self 8 episodes Jin as Self 12 episodes SUGA as Self - Guest 12 episodes Jimin as Self - Guest 12 episodes Jung Kook as Self - Guest 12 episodes j-hope as Self 12 episodes Tyler Perry as Self - Guest 7 episodes Blake Shelton as Self - Musical Guest 7 episodes Cameron Diaz as Self - Guest 7 episodes Lin-Manuel Miranda as Self - Guest 7 episodes John Cena as Self - Guest 7 episodes V as Self - Guest 11 episodes RM as Self - Guest 10 episodes Hugh Jackman as Self 8 episodes Anne Hathaway as Self 7 episodes Tariq Trotter as Self 8 episodes Shaquille O'Neal as Self 7 episodes Keke Palmer as Self - Guest / Lady Miss Jacqueline 7 episodes Taraji P. Henson as Self - Guest 9 episodes Kevin Hart as Self - Guest Co-Host 8 episodes Zoey Deutch as Self 7 episodes Rose Byrne as Self - Guest 7 episodes Shakira as Self 7 episodes Kate Hudson as Self - Guest 7 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Musician
Bobby Shmurda
Supervising Producer
Brian McDonald
Songs
Sabrina Carpenter
Director
Dave Diomedi Angelica Libkind
Music Director
Paul Shaffer
Security
Vanessa Vega Rivera
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Eric Milano
Costume Design
Mario Martines
Executive Producer
Lorne Michaels
Writer
Jimmy Fallon
Other
Matthew Miller
Signal Match

Similarity

Where The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

new york city celebrity game audience late-night show
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
February 17, 2014
Status
Returning Series
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
389