Being the seventh incarnation of NBC’s long-running- The Tonight Show Franchise, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon has been running from February 17, 2014 up till now ((July 2024). Its predecessors include The Tonight Show hosted by six comedians:
1. The Tonight Show Starring Steve Allen(1954–1957),
2. The Tonight Show Starring Jack Paar (1957–1962),
3. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson(1962–1992),
4. The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno (1992–2009 and 2010–2014),
5. The Tonight Show Starring Conan O’Brien (2009–2010)
6. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014-Present)
Besides this there have been guest hosts on the show such as:
· Joey Bishop (177 times, mostly in the 1960s)
· Joan Rivers (93, during the 1970s and 1980s)
· John Davidson (87)
· Bob Newhart (87)
· David Brenner (70)
· McLean Stevenson (58)
· Jerry Lewis (52, mostly in the 1960s)
· David Letterman (51, mostly between 1980 and 1981)
This show series is the longest running talk show and longest running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States.
Not only that but it is also the third-longest-running show on NBC, after the news-and-talk shows Today and Meet the Press. Some of the studios where it was taped include the Rockefeller Center, the Hudson Theatre, one of three different studios at NBC’s Burbank, California Studiosand an opulently reworked studio on Stage 1 of Universal Studios Hollywood.
During its course of almost 70 years, The Tonight Show has undergone only minor title changes. So far, Johnny Carson is the longest serving host to date having been on the show for over 29 years (7 months, 3 weeks and 1 day).
So far, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon has found resonance with a young, culturally savvy audience. Some of the main guests who have appeared on this show include Ryan Reynolds, Tony Hale, Diljit Dosanjh,Hugh Jackman, Ralph Macchio, John Owen Lowe, Matt Damon, Josh Hartnett, Rob Lowe, Sutton Foster, Christian Pulisic, Will Smith, Jerry Seinfeld, Kristen Wiig, Bradley Cooper, First Lady Michelle Obama, Will Ferrell, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Reese Witherspoon, Shaquille O’Neal, Al Pacino, Josh Hartnett, Drew Barrymore & Adam Sandler, Cameron Diaz and many other notable personalities.
Currently the show has Hip hop/neo soul band The Roots serving as the house band and Steve Higgins as the show’s announcer. Having a total of 2,000 episodes there is only so much more excitement and glamour to look forward to from this show! Who do you think are the next celebreties/personalities to appear on the show and how much longer do you think Fallon will last for?
