Fallon show aims to highlight Puerto Rico’s plight

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 Thursday 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 Andres will also be part of the NBC show. Andres 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 to cost more than $130 billion US.

“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 awardwinning Broadway musical Hamilton in San Juan, is of Puerto Rican heritage and regularly visited the territory as a youngster.

In a statement, Miranda said he appreciated that Fallon was “breaking with the traditional latenight mould to celebrate the beauty and culture of Puerto Rico” and help promote tourism.

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.”

Andres 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 will also include Fallon’s tour of Puerto Rico to highlight what it has to offer, NBC said.