In his debut at Late Night, former Saturday Night Live head writer Seth Meyers began with a quick tribute to Jimmy Fallon, his former castmate, by imitating his “Thank You Notes” segment.
Seth Meyers thanked Jimmy Fallon for moving on to The Tonight Show so that he could take his job. Then he self-deprecatingly promised to use the show only for “completely original comedy pieces” – as soon as the current one was over.
After a frenetic opening written by Fred Armisen, another SNL alum, Seth Meyers walked out to deliver his writing team’s unflashy but exceptionally well-made jokes.
Almost half were about politics, including this one about a 101-year-old candidate: “He has a good chance of appealing to younger viewers, since that’s all there is.”
Seth Meyers doesn’t seem prone to dumbing his humor down: His first bit was about Venn diagrams. But he could also be breezily likeable, as when he told a story about a man in a diner changing the tire of his and his wife’s car, while Seth Meyers held their small, shivering greyhound.
Seth Meyers began his first episode of Late Night with a quick tribute to Jimmy Fallon
On his first night, Seth Meyers felt almost like a pre-David Letterman talk show host, going for straightforward jokes over irony and stunts. Even his set is low-key, almost soothing, full of metallic blues.
His first guest was Amy Poehler – yet another SNL colleague, and one of his best friends. The second guest was Vice President Joe Biden, who had an easy rapport with Amy Poehler after guesting on her show, Parks & Recreation.
Joe Biden, a likely 2016 presidential contender, joked that he was “planning a major announcement tonight – but I decided tonight was your night”.
Seth Meyers then asked Amy Poehler about her 2016 plans.
“I’m running for president,” she said.
Amy Poehler did have a real announcement: Broad City, the Comedy Central show she executive produces, will return for a second season. She also talked about hosting a Golden Globe party, where Joaquin Phoenix was an exceptionally hard-to-read first guest.
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Jimmy Fallon officially handed-off the traditional Late Night giant plastic pickle to Seth Meyers on Tuesday’s show.
The pickle was given to Jimmy Fallon by previous Late Night host Conan O’Brien in 2009.
Conan O’Brien received the pickle from David Letterman’s staff in 1993. Before that, the giant plastic pickle was a staple decoration in the Letterman offices.
A few days before Jimmy Fallon’s first Late Night on March 2, 2009, the charming comedian shared the pickle’s tale and a sweet letter from his predecessor in an online video.
“Whenever you’re done – which won’t be for a long time – make sure you pass it on to the next sap,” Conan O’Brien penned and Jimmy Fallon read aloud.
“Knock ’em dead.”
Jimmy Fallon officially handed-off the traditional Late Night giant plastic pickle to Seth Meyers
Jimmy Fallon opined at the time: “It just kind of put everything in perspective, even though I’m holding a giant pickle …What a great tradition this is and what a great honor that I’m following in the footsteps of these great comedians.”
Seth Meyers takes over Late Night on February 24, when his first guest will be former SNL colleague Amy Poehler.
Jimmy Fallon’s first Tonight Show is a week earlier, with guests Will Smith and U2.
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon – soon to be Late Night With Seth Meyers – airs on NBC at 12:35 a.m. ET.
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Duck Dynasty’s Willie, Jep and Si Robertson stopped by Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on Monday and shared which Robertson didn’t have faith in their future.
“We always thought there may be something there,” Willie Robertson said of the enthusiasm he and his brothers had about the family business making it on the boob tube one day.
“We just got an email out of the blue that said, <<Hey, I think you guys may have a big show>>. So I went to talk to dad. I said, <<Dad, we could do a big show on a network>>.”
Willie Robertson revealed his father responded: “Nah. That won’t work.”
Duck Dynasty’s Willie, Jep and Si Robertson stopped by Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on Monday
“I remind him of that every week,” Willie Robertson said with a laugh.
But if anyone deserves credit for the show’s success, it’s Uncle Si Robertson.
“I’m the most important part of this whole thing!” he insisted.
Si Robertson proved how important he is elsewhere in New York on Monday when he and his nephews sat in the front row at the Sherri Hill Fashion Week runway show.
The show also featured another Roberston, Si Robertson’s model niece Sadie.
Duck Dynasty airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on A&E.
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Duck Dynasty’s stars Willie, Jep and Uncle Si Robertson were on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Monday night, but family patriarch Phil was not.
Perhaps that’s why the guys decided to reveal that Phil Robertson was originally against the idea of the family signing on to do a reality show.
“We always thought there may be something there, and we just got an email out of the blue said, <<Hey, I think you guys may have a big show>>,” Willie Robertson said.
“And so I went to talk to dad and said, <<We could do a big show on a network>>. And he said, <<Nah, that won’t work>>.”
Duck Dynasty’s stars Willie, Jep and Uncle Si Robertson appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Monday night
Willie Robertson then added: “I remind him of that every week, though.”
The latest season premiere of Duck Dynasty broke cable ratings records, pulling in 11.8 million viewers. And the overwhelming success of the show has allowed the Robertson clan to branch out into many other areas. They have several books in print, including Uncle Si’s just-released biography, as well as a myriad of other Duck Dynasty products.
The family is even set to release a Christmas album called Duck the Halls.
Willie Robertson promised Jimmy Fallon that the songs will “blow your pants off”. That one’s going to have to be heard to be believed.
Duck Dynasty airs every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on A&E.
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon airs every weeknight at 12:37 a.m. ET on NBC.
