Fallon, ‘Tonight’ team just wants to have fun
‘Murderer’ case goes before court
LOS ANGELES, June 14, (Agencies): In a self-moderated panel on Tuesday, Jimmy Fallon and a collection of his creative team sat down on the “Tonight Show” stage at 30 Rock to drive home their mission statement: to have fun and provide “an escape” for their audience during a particularly turbulent time.
“There’s a lot of sad news we could talk about,” Fallon acknowledged. But what he hopes “The Tonight Show” can do is “help people get away from it.”
The FYC Writers Guild panel also included director Dave Diomedi, Digital Media Director Julie Harrison-Harney, writer Arthur Meyer, head writer Amy Ozols, and producers Mike DiCenzo, Gerard Bradford, and Katie Hockmeyer. All emphasized that they view “The Tonight Show” as a true variety show, complete with creative musical acts and the parlor games that first made Fallon’s version of “The Tonight Show” stand out. When Fallon, acting as moderator, asked what their “craziest show” was, an April show featuring Serena Williams throwing axes, Priyanka Chopra eating Skittles, David Blaine sewing his mouth shut, and the Avengers singing a satirized version of “The Brady Bunch” theme was the first to come to mind as a particularly good example of how much the show takes on.
“When we first started doing ‘Late Night,’ no one was really doing that,” said Fallon of the wacky games that have now earned the show both critical wariness and huge online success. “Now it’s more common.”
“Once one person does it, more feel comfortable doing it,” agreed Ozols.
One celebrity the “Tonight Show” team raved about being particularly game was Cardi B, the endlessly charismatic rapper who became Fallon’s first co-host in April. “I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone like Cardi B,” laughed Fallon, later saying he was thrilled to give her personality a platform when “a lot of mainstream America only knew for ‘Bodak Yellow.’” He also revealed that Cardi B’s “Tonight Show” interview from last December inspired Amazon to hire her for its Super Bowl commercial, in which the Alexa loses her voice and needs celebrity replacements.
But over and over again, the “Tonight Show” team mostly underlined their enthusiasm for making people feel good, pointing to moments like Fallon visiting fans at home in Minneapolis and bringing on New York City’s Girl Scout Troop for homeless youth. And lest these sound like the kind of scenes more suited to a political campaign than a talk show, Fallon greeted a question about whether he’d ever run for president with a resounding nope, joking, “you think it’s bad now...”
Even though they pointed out that Fallon makes topical jokes in his monologue, the “Tonight Show” team didn’t shy away from the fact that they’re far less interested in tackling the news onslaught that feeds other late night shows.
The US Supreme Court on Thursday was to decide whether to hear an appeal in a case made famous by popular Netflix series “Making a Murderer” that raised troubling questions about the American judicial system.
Millions of people around the world were transfixed by the gripping documentary series about a blue-collar Wisconsin man and his nephew charged with the murder of a young woman photographer, whose remains were found on the grounds of the family’s auto salvage yard.
Opinions are divided on the guilt of the story’s central character, Steven Avery. He was sentenced in 2007 to life in prison for the murder of 25-year-old Teresa Halbach.
But many viewers were deeply disturbed by the fate of Avery’s nephew, Brendan Dassey — only 16 at the time of the killing — who received the same sentence. It is his case the Supreme Court will be considering.
AT&T won’t be able to hang up on Jeff Zucker. The colorful CNN chief signed a deal several months ago that will keep him at the cable-news network through the 2020 election, according to a person familiar with the matter.
CNN declined to make executives available for comment. Vanity Fair previously revealed details of the executive’s contract.
The pact, previously undisclosed, will dampen speculation that AT&T, which gained approval Wednesday to complete its purchase of CNN owner Time Warner, might try to oust Zucker and put a new executive at the helm of CNN. Under Zucker’s tenure, CNN has gained new relevance with its coverage of the Trump administration. That journalism also draws the ire of President Trump, who often takes to Twitter to call CNN “Fake News.” He often uses the same phrase to disparage CNN’s reporters during press appearances.
As expected, Paul McCartney will appear in a new episode of “Carpool Karaoke,” joining host James Corden for broadcasts of “The Late Late Show” out of London on June 18 through 21. The “Late Late Show” airs on CBS in the US and on Sky One in the UK and NOW TV.
Other guests on deck for London week include Chris Pratt, Damian Lewis, J.J. Abrams and Ruth Wilson in addition to the previously announced Cher, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Niall Horan and Foo Fighters.
Variety reported on Monday that the Beatles legend and the British television personality were seen filming together in Liverpool. Said Liverpool Beatles tourguide Jackie Spencer: “was being really nice to everybody. He was backing people in so they could get pictures with him. He and James Corden were taking selfies. And they just walked back, got in the car and disappeared off and went ‘round Liverpool. It was fabulous.”