Jimmy Fallon takes Tonight Show back to New York with starstudded debut Robert De Niro, Lady Gaga and Mike Tyson in the audience as new host takes over long-running NBC talk show Jimmy Fallon took the reins of the long-running Tonight Show on Monday, bringing NBCs flagship late-night talk show to Manhattan after an absence of more than 40 years. Im Jimmy Fallon and Ill be your host – for now, Fallon told the audience, which included Robert De Niro, Lady Gaga and Mike Tyson. Tina Fey, Mariah Carey, Lindsay Lohan, Joan Rivers, former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, and comedian Stephen Colbert also made surprise appearances for Fallons debut, following the departure this month of long-serving host Jay Leno. The slew of unannounced walk-ons followed Fallons remark that someone owed him $100 (£60) after betting he would never host the Tonight Show, at which point De Niro and others strode on stage one after another, each putting notes on to his desk until Colbert showered him with a bucket of pennies. His official guests were no less stellar – actor Will Smith and U2. We can book people from the west coast?! he joked. Fallons appointment to one of the most visible roles in US television marked NBCs second attempt to appeal to the coveted 18-34 demographic. Brooklyn-raised director Spike Lee shot a new opening, a stirring series of black-and-white night shots that gave way to colourful depictions of Radio City Music Hall, Grand Central Terminal and the Rockefeller Centre. The new set featured a dramatic Manhattan skyline. The Tonight Show first aired on NBC in 1954 from New York with host Steve Allen. Jack Paar hosted the show from 1957 followed in 1962 by Johnny Carson, who reigned for 30 years, before departing in 1992. Carson moved the show to southern California in 1972. In its final Burbank days, the Tonight Show drew about 3.9 million viewers an episode. The first lady, Michelle Obama, is among the guests scheduled for this week, along with Bradley Cooper and Justin Timberlake. Jerry Seinfeld, Kristen Wiig and Lady Gaga will appear on Tuesday Jimmy Fallon Talk shows United States Television theguardian © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Posted on: Tue, 18 Feb 2014 09:59:11 +0000
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