Fallon mines local talent for Tonight Show visit to Puerto Rico
LOS ANGELES — Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show broadcast from Puerto Rico will showcase artists with ties to the U.S. territory.
Besides previously announced guest Lin-Manuel Miranda, Fallon said he will be joined on the Tuesday show by José Feliciano, Bad Bunny and Ozuna.
The three musicians are natives of Puerto Rico.
Chef and activist José Andrés also will be part of the NBC show. Andrés led a grassroots effort to feed island residents after 2017’s devastating Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and Dominica.
The show aims to highlight Puerto Rico’s culture as well as what it still faces after the disaster, including restoration estimated by the government at more than $130 billion.
“A tremendous amount of work has gone into rebuilding these vibrant, beautiful communities, and there is still so much more that needs to be done — and we want to continue to help,” Fallon said.
The New York-born Miranda, who’s performing in his award-winning Broadway musical Hamilton starting Friday in San Juan, is of Puerto Rican heritage and regularly visited as a youngster.
In a statement, Miranda said he appreciated that Fallon was “breaking with the traditional late-night mould to celebrate the beauty and culture of Puerto Rico” and help promote tourism.
“My family, along with Hamilton, are dedicated to continuing to aid in Puerto Rico’s strive for prosperity and we are thankful to be able to call Jimmy and the Tonight Show team friends and partners in this mission,” Miranda said.
He and the new Hamilton touring cast will perform the musical’s The Story of Tonight.
Bad Bunny said viewers will see the island is still recovering but has retained its spirit, adding, “we are happy, we are dancing, playing music, enjoying our amazing food because Estamos Bien” — or We’re Fine, the title of his hit single.
He is set to perform his song MIA, while Feliciano and Ozuna will join on the popular tune En Mi Viejo San Juan (In My Old San Juan).
Andrés will discuss the continuing Puerto Rico efforts of World Central Kitchen, the non-profit he founded that’s working to revive the island’s food economy with grants and training for small farms.
The episode also will include Fallon’s tour of Puerto Rico to highlight what it has to offer.