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It’s been almost five years since Jimmy Fallon made his talk show debut on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, taking over the post-Leno spot in Conan O'Brien's absence. At first critics weren’t impressed and expected Fallon to get the boot. But, of course, he shut the haters up by eventually coming into his own and delivering some of the best late night television moments in recent years.
Fallon’s comedic chops truly shine in side-splitting moments like imitating Twilight's always emo Robert Pattinson or channeling his inner Heisenberg for a Breaking Bad parody. If you still don’t believe how much Fallon has done for late night television, look no further than the time he slow-jammed the news with President Obama, or when he busted a move with First Lady Michelle Obama.
Tonight, Fallon's debut as Jay Leno's replacement on The Tonight Show will begin the former SNL cast member's biggest late-night looks yet. To get a sense of where The Tonight Show's about to go, here are 15 classic moments Jimmy Fallon contributed to late night talk show history.
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The Beastie Boys Give One of Their Last Performances Together
Date: 5/25/2009
In hindsight, this already special moment is all the more important. In mid-2009, the Beastie Boys appeared on Late Night as both guests and performers, to promote their album Hot Sauce Committee (before member Adam "MCA" Yauch's cancer diagnosis delayed its release indefinitely). They performed "Whatcha Want," and, sadly, it would be one of their last times on-stage together, prefacing Yauch's passing in May 2012.
"Joking Bad," a Breaking Bad Parody
Date: 9/12/2013
Amidst all the hoopla surrounding Breaking Bad's series finale, Jimmy Fallon chose to honor the television phenomenon in the best way he knew how: by parodying it. In Late Night's hilarious "Joking Bad," he plays Walter White, tighty-whiteys and all, as he gets sucked into the shady world of selling jokes with his trusty sidekick (Steve Higgins playing a Jesse Pinkman variation). Best of all, Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul have cameos, turning what's already a winner into a knockout.
"7th Floor West"
Date: the first installment aired on 3/5/2009
The Hills, one of MTV's early gold mine reality shows, the one responsible for Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, was about white girls dealing with first world problems like what fancy restaurant they should go to, and other such petty matters. Jimmy Fallon spoofed all of its lameness with "7th Floor West," dealing with Late Night's very own backstage drama. There was backstabbing, scheming, and gossiping, not unlike The Hills itself. And, mercifully, Justin Bobby was nowhere to be found.
"Robert is Bothered"
Date: the first edition aired on 8/16/2009
Shortly before The Twilight Saga: New Moon opened, Jimmy Fallon brilliantly lampooned its emo vampire Robert Cullen, impersonating Robert Pattinson's overly sensitive character in the "Robert is Bothered" skit series. Looking as pasty as ever, Fallon did his best brooding vampire routine while perched in a tree complaining about life. One "Robert is Bothered" bit is better than all the Twilight movies combined. It's not even close.
Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Fallon Perform "Whip My Hair"
Date: 11/26/2010
Jimmy Fallon has always had a knack for musical performances. Here, he nails an acoustic cover of Willow Smith's bombastic "Whip My Hair" as none other than Neil Young. The performance gets even better when he's joined by none other than the king of New Jersey, Mr. Bruce Springsteen. And suddenly, "Whip My Hair" becomes tolerable.
The Roots, Jimmy Fallon, and Carly Rae Jepsen Perform "Call Me Maybe"
Date: 6/12/2012
You either thought Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me, Maybe" was the most annoying song ever or it was secretly your guilty pleasure. Even if you were a part of the former group, Fallon and The Roots' rendition of the pop hit with classroom instruments (i.e., the kazoo, a triangle) won you over. Though, to be fair, it needed more cowbell.
The Return of Zack Morris
Date: 6/8/2009
Only three months into his Late Night run, Jimmy Fallon blessed nostalgic viewers with the show's first classic moments back in June 2009. The source: the slightly jarring but altogether welcome return of Saved By the Bell's resident playboy and troublemaker extraordinaire, Zack Morris (played by a grown-up Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Equipped with a Zack Morris Cell Phone, because of course.
Real People, Fake Arms
Date: 3/13/2013
"Real People, Fake Arms" was a staple on Fallon's Late Night. The bit took place within the fictional Canadian soap Jacob's Patience, starring, naturally, Jimmy Fallon. This time he goes in search of a suit and tie and gets help from suit shop owners Justin Timberlake (as Lumberpond) and Steve Carell (as Parvis). Hilarity ensues.
Full House Reunion
Date: 1/29/2014
The '90s nostalgia was in full swing when Fallon pulled of a Full House reunion complete with Bob "Danny Tanner" Saget, John "Uncle Jesse" Stamos, and Dave "Uncle Joey" Coulier. The parental figures coached him through his fears about hosting The Tonight Show. Even better? Jesse and The Rippers performed and Aunt Becky even made an appearance.
Thankfully featuring "Cut. It. Out" jokes, Fallon's Full House homage didn't disappoint.
Brad Pitt's Yodeling
Date: 6/18/2013
What do yodeling and zombies have in common? Brad Pitt, of course. Yes, you read that right. The star promoted his summer blockbuster World War Z by yodeling with Fallon across rooftops, even daring to do a double yodel. Far more epic than the double rainbow.
Mom-Dancing with Michelle Obama
Date: 2/22/2013
Not to be outdone by Barack, First Lady Michelle Obama also paid Jimmy Fallon's late-night set a visit. She joined Fallon for some fancy footwork in "The Evolution of Mom Dancing," including go-to moves like "the sprinkler" and modern favorites like Beyonce's "Single Ladies" hand gesture. Soccer moms everywhere were undoubedly inspired.
Justin Bieber's Mannequin Makeout
Date: 2/5/2013
Justin Bieber and Fallon play a little one-on-one basketball with some of the pop star's favorite things, strippers not included. The random items include Ramen, a framed picture of Chuck Norris, and a mannequin head sporting a Nets hat, which the Biebs proceeds to tongue disturbingly. No wonder Selena Gomez wanted out.
EW! with Channing Tatum
Date: 6/28/2012
Fallon plays Sara (without the "H" because H's are ew), the host of Teen Nick's fictional talk show Ew!, where she gabs with friends about teen obsessions like One Direction. In this episode, special guest star Channing Tatum plays Sara's hip-hop dancing, Dustin-Hoffman-loving friend, Susie. Fourteen-year-old girls have never been cooler.
"The History of Rap"
Date: 9/30/2010, 7/20/2011, 10/29,2011, and 3/16/2013
Leave it to Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake to act as hip-hop's unofficial historians. No, really. In this fun and admirably thorough ongoing segment, Fallon and Timberlake covered rap's storied past by dropping classic bars themselves. Unlike your Grammy golden child Macklemore, here's a white rap extravaganza that we all can get behind.
News with Obama
Date: 4/24/2012
"Slow-jamming the news"—a long running bit on Fallon where he delivers the news to the tune of, you guessed it, slow jams—got even better when President Obama, or as Fallon referred to him, "The Preezy of the United Steezy," joined him to serenade the audience about keeping student loan rates low. Which was much more entertaining than Obama's other, standard sit-downs with Jay Leno. Yeah, The Tonight Show is about to gets its pulse back, big time.
