Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon plummets to lowest ratings ever

He isn't funny. That's really the main problem.

You either have it, or you don't.

I could not stand him.

For the people in the cheap seats: The Tonight Show, which was once the crown jewel of late night programming, is pulling in less than 1M viewers. It’s insane his ass hasn’t been kicked to the curb.

Colbert has really came into his own since lockdown, he's on fire. That's where Fallon's viewers went to.

I guess now though, without Trump, how well Colbert will do?

Kimmel despises Trump as well, but it wasn't his whole show.

Yes. It appears the audience was holding Colbert back!

Watch Jimmy Fallon book BTS as regular guests.

Fat and untalented.

He’s furiously trying to wrest that title from James Corden.

Jimble Kimble is beating Fallon in the ratings. I'm going to blow my brains up...

I’ve Fallon and I can’t get up.

R10 that’s a good one, that’s funny

Jimmy was better at 1230 - he could be less polished and it was oddly endearing. One of the things from his 1230 show I enjoyed was the audience participation in games and bits and that seems to have vanished.

Honestly - I prefer Seth Meyers - he's a better interviewer and I prefer his political humor/commentary. I wonder if he would do better at 1130?

Jimmy Fallon does not have the polish to be the Tonight Show host. He was funny when he was on SNL which was a better venue for his talents.

He’s the ultimate entertained, but that requires R12’s spreader environment to do well.

Huggy Kissy can’t come back until Vogue September at least.

How many beers does that make today Eunice R14??

Shit I never knew the TV ratings were that low these days. I read that Carson used to get 10+ million

I quite like to look at Jimmy Fallon, but he doesn’t seem to be very smart.

I've been watching the commentaries on youtube. They are all pretty good but Seth Meyers is the best. They all make Carson look lame and I grew up with Johnny. But Carson was a genius in walking a fine line which is why his viewership was so vast.

Seriously r14, I read your post five times and...nothing.

Sorry, it is the weed. Jimmy is an ultimate fan and the audience identifies with his frenetic energy. This requires more people working closely together with an audience and stars willing to travel.

My prediction is that these types of programs will not recover ratings until the September issue of Vogue hits.

Carson had a vast viewership because there were only four channels and nothing else was on at that hour.

It appears from OP's post that the total audience for all the 11:30 pm chat shows is less than 5 million.

The Tonight Show alone averaged > 6 million viewers in 1991, Carson's last year as host, in a country with only 75% of today's population (254M vs. 328M). Tbh, I'm amazed even 5 million bother to watch these days.

Does he wear a hair piece?

Clearly the answer is to bring back successful hosts like Magic Johnson and Chevy Chase.

Seth is the best, to me, by far. He's a great interviewer and just fantastic off the cuff.

Fallon MIGHT rebound after Trump is gone. He just falls flat at politics. But he really, really needs an audience. He's all about energy. And why, oh why, won't he take a fucking how-to-interview workshop? Fawning over EVERY SINGLE HUMAN AT LEVEL 10 is just embarrassingly poor form. Covid has made it even worse. His interviews are so awkward.

I guess he shouldn’t have mussed Trump’s hair.

[Quote]Colbert has really came into his own since lockdown, he's on fire. That's where Fallon's viewers went to.

Oh, dear.

I watched the first show when Fallon took over, and never tuned in again.

Stephen Colbert is my jam

OP = Conan

These shows are so useless and old fashion. Everything I need to know about an actor or singer can be found via a Google search. new movie coming out? Social media ads couples with fans online talk about the movies spread the word. These shows could be interesting if the interviews were interesting. Seth is a good interviewer as others said.

The only talk show host I honestly enjoy is Grahm Norton's show. Guests have fun, the show is only on once a week or something, and they actually drink with all guests interacting. He is the best in my opinion at keeping things entertaining. I simply adore his show.

He’s too much of a kiss ass. And his skits are not funny. I miss David Letterman.

Though Fallon currently has the best hair, he's a no-talent who thinks he's funny, but he's not. And he's dim.

I really think he has something on Lorne Michaels. Why else would he let this drunk host a show.

He never should have tussled Trumps hair.

The talk show served its purpose, but it's an outdated institution that really should just go away at this point. We get more than enough "important breaking news" about celebs and their lame projects from the MSM.

The people who still watch late night talk shows must email each other on their blackberries about how funny the shows are.

Talk shows are really outdated, for the reasons noted above.

Graham Norton's show is so good because they all drink and actually have a conversation, they're not just there for chit-chat and then to plug whatever their new project is.

Not funny not talented. End of story.

He's a horrible interviewer, he's not remotely funny, he laughs too much - and his hair is absolutely hideous.

[quote]I guess now though, without Trump, how well Colbert will do?

He'll continue, this time with Biden . . .

Who would they replace him with, I don't mind Seth Meyers but he doesn't seem like that much of a draw and then he would need replaced. Someone from SNL? Colin Jost isn't terrible but he doesn't seem like a draw either. A minority? I can't think of one that white America would embrace and you need that for the ratings, does the black community even watch these shows. Ricky Gervais might be talented and edgy enough but he doesn't seem like the team player type that NBC would want. Anyone have any ideas?

I could not have gotten through these last couple years of Trump without Seth Meyers and Stephen Colbert. If I had to pick just one I have to go with Seth. His "A Closer Look" segments have been my favorite thing on planet Earth. His delivery of the shit-hot writing blows my mind. He makes me laugh sooooo hard. Plus he's a dilf. And Colbert has had so many funny segments this year, including "Quarentinewhile" and "Don and The Giant Impeach 2: Go Fast We're Furious" to name but two. Both of these guys have been priceless sources of humor, comfort, and accurately mirrored outrage in troubled times and I'm very grateful they exist.

Sometimes I'm wanting to milk my evening youtube monologue watching a little more, so I'll click on one of the other show host's monologues. I don't do Cordon. Kimmel is not my favorite but he's intelligent, funny, and has a different delivery than the other guys. A more Jewish deadpan thing, and I like that sometimes. Trevor Noah amuses me. He's actually an amazing interviewer and I admired the Zoom interview he did with Michael J Fox recently. Very compassionate, intelligent, dignified, and still funny too. No problem with Noah or Kimmel.

And then...there's Fallon. I think he is the cutest guy, just adorable to look at, and seems like a sweetheart. But when I try to watch his monologues or his interviews, I want to rip my hair out. He's just so lame compared to everyone else. He's like a child pretending to be and adult and to do adult "work." There's no "there" there.

Who wants to watch a stupid frat boy show every night?

R40 The only POC that I can see white America rooting for and tuning in for is Dave Chapelle. Wouldn't that be wild if he hosted the fricking Tonight Show? He would never do it because it's wayyyyyy too much work. He's more into his domestic scene with the wife and kids and then the control of picking and choosing his moments to work. He has all the money he could ever dream of and his ego is well-sated. But he would get massive ratings.

I'm beginning to think that Lorne Michaels actually owns NBC and controls all the network's television division shows, decisions and staff. It's like no matter how bad or inconceivable they are, former alumni within the orb of their original tenures on his "SNL" show never go or fade away, regardless of how tiresome they or their subsequent efforts on that network become.

Fallon needs celebrities in-house so he can do his stupid skits and games. That's the entire show, since he can't interview or do a monologue.

Just wanted to add that I notice how on the No Better Changes (NBC) network, it seems they keep doing and keep up with the saaaaaaaammmmme tired schtick and programming decisions and people over and over and over again, forever.

Two-word solution: Craig Ferguson.

kimmel is the doosh that needs to go.....that ass eating grin of his and his shitty humor.

Yea, Colin Jost would be awesome...

If you want to truly know unfunny, you should watch A Little Late With Lilly Singh at 1:30.

Twitter will demand that she be named host of Tonight before Seth Meyers.

Viewership will rocket to 100,000 a night.

Not Funny Fallon and Fat Fuck Corden need to hold hands and take a long walk off a short pier.

Who is this Amber Ruffin woman? I see her videos a lot when I'm watchin' mah Seth and mah Stephen.

[quote] Kimmel is not my favorite but he's intelligent, funny, and has a different delivery than the other guys. A more Jewish deadpan thing, and I like that sometimes.

Jimmy Kimmel is not Jewish.

I think Seth is a terrific and natural interviewer.

But can anyone tell me why he reads A Closer Look off the teleprompter at lightning speed with no inflection? He sounds like a kid doing a book report.

R53 I didn't know if he was or not, but it reminds me of my Jewish relatives. I guess its what, New York-ish?

For R53

"While Kimmel — who dated comedian Sarah Silverman for several years — is often mistaken as a Jew, he was raised Roman Catholic and was once an altar boy."

OFTEN MISTAKEN AS A JEW

I never watch Fallon.

With everybody streaming now. Does anybody even watch these crap anymore?

Mybe they can dig Dave Garroway out of mothballs and make him host?

#LATENITE2WHITE Find all the males of late night (Colbert, Meyers, Corden, Kimmel, Fallon) to be rather one-note and boring and imagine they have all slipped in the ratings. Who is their audience? They are why people have Netflix, Hulu, Prime...

I'm not quite 50, but I want an actual talk show. Not this scripted banter, publicist approved, skits, and games thing that these shows have become. Whatever happened to a real conversation where people are asked real questions were the host and the guest are connected and engaged with a topic that isn't only about their latest project?

R18 The lack of competition, streaming services and for decades cable kept Carson's ratings so high. He was habitual watched.

R61 I believe Seth Meyers does this well. Trevor Noah is a good interviewer as well. It's not a total crap fest. Fallon though, is precisely all the things that you don't like, and that's probably why his ratings are bad. Colbert also has done some really deep interviews where things go in a raw and poignant direction. He's a pretty deep dude. I remember when Anderson Cooper's mom died, they had a very deep convo about it.

Sarah Copper did an amazing job subbing for Seth Myers. Like better than Conan or Colbert or Fallon for their first year of shows. Someone give Sarah her own show.

I was just gonna say, when will a truly funny woman get the Tonight Show gig? We keep hearing about how we need a female "Bond" or a female Dr. Who. But all the late night shows are white men. Let's mix it up. She has to be legit funny though, and not screamingly feminine. Such as a more likable Chelsea Handler type -- someone that transcends gender and has a ton of presernce.

Cobert and Meyers and others will have to recreate themselves once Dump isn't president and is out of the headlines.

Jimmy's ratings may rise again.

He's been trying to do 'serious' interviews and falling flat. Always looks like a kid trying not to laugh at church. No one tunes into him for that.

Jimmy F should start an OnlyFans. Him showing off his cock would probably boost ratings insanely. He needs scandals — Carson divorced constantly, just for publicity.

No, Carson did not divorce, either constantly or for publicity.

Does this mean Jay Leno is on his way back just like after the Conan fiasco?

I despise him - that stupid non-stop fake laughing.

If only Lynn Samuels were still alive. She's be a perfect fit to host the Tonight Show. It needs something completely different.

Fallon's frat boy vibe is really what NBC/Universal on all levels is. From the landowners at Comcast to the Lorne Michael's dominance, its always been a white guys place. Fallon's charms fade as he gets older because his original appeal was the "goofy kid" schtick, which why he was so great playing off of Tina Fey. The boy playing off of "mom." It was the the perfect archetype. There's no way NBC will get rid of Fallon. Lorne Michaels has too much power, and he's Lorne Michael's "guy." End of story. What's most interesting lately is Fallon seems to be highly aware of how not hitting the mark he is. It's feels sort of desperate. He also, like NBC/Universal did for years, shilled for Trump with the famous hair rubbing moment. He's forever stained by that.

No love for Samantha Bee?

My favorite was Craig Ferguson, second Letterman. But of the currents, I go with Jimmy Kimmel. People say frat-boy but I think he's quite clever - and funnier than any of the current crew.

I think I remember that Jimmy Kimmel's mother was Italian - so maybe it's an Italian-American New Yorker thing he has going on. (dad's side was German)

Speaking of JAPs, I wish they'd give Sarah Silverman a try. It's about time to give the ladies another go at it.

"There's no way NBC will get rid of Fallon. Lorne Michaels has too much power, and he's Lorne Michael's "guy." End of story. "

Is this sort of like when everyone wanted to fire newscaster Howard Beal, but the chairman of the board Arthur Jensen wouldn't hear of it because Beal was his - delivering his message? It didn't work out so well for Howard Beal in the end...

Jimmy Fallon seems like a nice guy, and he's funny enough, but his show feels more like daytime fare. You need a little more of an edge to host a nighttime show. However, I did love when he permitted Joan Rivers to return the Tonight Show for the first time in decades. I also loved when he had Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie perform "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow" with a group of young kids playing makeshift instruments.

I think the ultimate host would be Chris Rock. He's gifted at stand-up, but he's also great at humorous ad-libbing during interviews. (Last week, Gayle King interviewed him, and he was funny and later, sensitive, when he talked about his childhood bullying and current therapy.) He's mature now, he's funny with an edge, and he's had a few decades to practice his chops.

Letterman had the deadpan things down and he was white bread Midwestern - Indiana or something. Hell, Carson and Cavett both had it and they were Nebraskans. Maybe they learned it from Jews but it's pretty common among comedians. Even Conan the giant Irishman, but then, the Irish are very funny anyway (Graham Norton for example). As good as Brits at taking the piss. Maybe better.

R77 His wife begs to differ.

* deadpan THING (not things)

It's weirdly funny that not only will Fallon never live down playing with Trump's hair but that now it appears even WORSE.

I rather read about his drunken exploits.

R75, I second your vote for Sarah Silverman. Not only is she a great stand-up comic, but she's also good at bits. A couple of months ago, she did funny interviews with kids for the Ellen show.

Sarah Silverman is grating and irritating.

Everyone likes Sarah Silverman (*except assholes)

Only New Yorkers like Silverman.

(86) I must be an exception, as a New Yorker, could never stand the sight of her, if she happens to be on tv, the channel is quickly changed.

I like the guy, but I also like his competitors.

With everybody streaming now. Does anybody watch this shit anymore? Celebrities plugging their crappy movies.

I only watch the occasional clip online, when the celebrity guest is someone I like and am interested in. Since I dislike and am not interested in about 90% of current celebrities, I don't watch very often.

He's not funny, he was the weakest member of the SNL cast he was a part of, his friendship with Timberlake is annoying, etc.

"These shows are so useless and old fashion."

Oh dear, R30.

Fallon was charming and a fun watch when he started. He's too old for what he does, now, sadly. He's like the middle aged or older HS teacher trying to be cool and won with the teens. I wish him well.

Is he still a drunk?

He looks fat and sweaty. Rapist? Coke head? Drunk?

Big booze bag.

You Tube Jimmy Glick interviews him and Fallon is all giggles and more giggles. I believe he was sober at the time.

I'd still fuck him.

We know you would, hon. We know.

r99 couldn't get laid in a morgue.

I only watch for the "Water Wars" and you can see them online. This, with Chris Hemsworth, made my jeans wet, too.

(97) I love when Jimmy asks Fallon about his relationship with Justin Timberlake..Jimmy shouts "you were lovers, admit it " then asks "where you top or bottom."

On paper, he should be a good host but he is just too juvenile and always trying to force a joke. I don't know, the whole NBC late night thing is just stale and forced. It's of another era, and not done right. If you're going to do a late night show in the classic style, then go nostalgic and bring in some heavyweights, and some of that late night magic from the distant past..., otherwise update it for the modern era.

NBC is stuck in the 90s/early 2000s.

Yeah, NBC can't get over the days of Friends and Leno. 30 Rock used to mock the channel for trying to copy those days. Audiences have moved on and NBC is only just realising what a great back catalogue they have for streaming, almost 10 years after the office became a massive global hit on Netflix, probably a far bigger impact than when it originally aired.

His fake laugh is more off-putting than the laugh track on Two Broke Girls. Un-fucking-watchable.

I enjoyed this water war with Ryan Reynolds.

Fallon doesn't have the gravitas to fill Carson's seat. Everything about him screams frat boy

Fallon worked better at a later hour. R107, you’re right, he’s definitely more juvenile than the other hosts. Not much finesse with comedy.

I stayed away from Kimmel forever because I remember him as the fat dude on the lame Man Show from forever ago. But a couple of years ago I gave him a try. He's much, much wittier than I thought. I don't watch him every night, but I'm always pleasantly surprised when I do.

I do love Seth though.

Fallon is just terrible.

I didn't mind Fallon too much when he had an audience to play off. However, since Covid I watched less when he had his show in his home. It was kind creepy and I felt like a voyeur. He seemed to slowly unravel during 2020 and seems incoherent, at times. He may be drinking and drugging again. He needs a vacation, bad.

Ugh, can’t believe people still tune into late night tv. I find it all unwatchable.

he’s fine. NBC loves him, if something were to happen he’s guaranteed work because Lorne Michaels loves him too.

I don't find him funny or entertaining. He's good at impressions though. Fallon really should have a variety show. Anyway, a lot of late night network talk shows bore me because they're just there for celebs to advertise a product or project. The talk show hosts basically are just hype men to stroke the ego of the famous person. I dont know how they still exist outside of it being a tradition. Letterman was an ass but at least he was funny and not about kissing up to celebs which is why I can still watch his clips.

But I do like the more politically incorrect talk shows that air on cable like The Daily Show, Bill Maher, Colbert Report, John Oliver, Graham Norton and Conan and that's about it. Where they actually ask more hard questions and treat their guests like people.

[quote]Fallon really should have a variety show.

Are you posting from 1964?

[quote] Are you posting from 1964?

Fallon would fit better in that era than today where he seems so antiquated. His target audience has to be older people who like it "safe" and "wholesome".

This show is awful. I don’t know how he ever got this far in the first place. He isn’t funny. Sure, every once in a while he does something that makes me chuckle, but he is not good enough to anchor his own show. It’s painful to watch.

I hope Seth Meyers is heir apparent. He is a good interviewer, A Closer Look is spot on AND he calmly challenged John McCain's daughter which infuriated her and her nazi husband.

Fallon had a cute body when he was younger.

Quelle surprise he's painfully unfunny. Also isn't he a closet-case?