By Drew Grant 4/05 6:39pm

The Tonight Show

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The Top Five Rumors (and Ensuing Damage Control) About Jimmy Fallon, Jay Leno and The Tonight Show

Wednesday’s official announcement from NBC that Jimmy Fallon will be replacing Jay Leno on The Tonight Show was the culmination of months worth of speculation, rumors and gossip. When the media learned that Mr. Fallon was not only moving the show back to New York, but would be hosting the program from Johnny Carson’s old studio, the comparisons between this latest drama and the bitter NBC late-night feuds in the past–Conan vs. Leno, Leno vs. Letterman–were inevitable, despite the network trying to play off the move as amicable. Hell, trying for the 11:30 (or now, technically, 11:35) slot on NBC is more of a political bloodsport than Game of Thrones, with at least twice as much backstabbing and allegiance shifting. (Though less decapitation … that we know of.)

Here are the five best rumors about the new Tonight Show, along with any responses from NBC or its players. Read More

By Drew Grant 10/30/12 3:34pm

hurricane sandy

Letterman and Fallon: Braving the storm (NBC, CBS)

David Letterman And Jimmy Fallon: When a Lack of an Audience is a Good Thing (Video)

While Anderson Cooper was learning about his afternoon talk show being cancelled–no, not just for Hurricane Sandy, but forever–two late night hosts made the brave decision to continue their shows at NBC and CBS as if a giant storm wasn’t ranging outside.

The only problem? Neither Jimmy Fallon nor David Letterman had a live audience–a first, in both their histories–to laugh at their jokes. But what could have turned into that creepy David Lynch episode of Louie was actually an amazing bit of performance art as the two jokesters performed to the dead silence of a mostly-empty room. *Yanks collar* “Tough crowd!” Read More

By Drew Grant 6/15/12 11:54am

Lena Dunham

Lena Dunham on 'Late Night' (Hulu)

Lena Dunham’s Terrifyingly Awesome Crush on Jimmy Fallon (Video)

Can you guys believe that there is only one episode of Girls left? That’s so depressing! Will Shoshanna ever lose her virginity? Will Marnie and Hannah ever make up? Will we ever care about Jessa, or stop caring about Ray? (Alex Karpovsky is our new crush, for now and forever.) We hope the season finale will answer some, if not all of these questions!

In the meantime, here is Lena Dunham on Late Night Wednesday night, where she told Jimmy Fallon about her very weird high school crush on him. (It involved a play she wrote, obviously!) Read More

By Drew Grant 2/21/12 12:06pm

Smash

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They should just change the shows title to 'Splash'

Anjelica Huston Loves Throwing Water on People! (Video)

We were a little put out after watching the pilot for NBC’s “hit new show(tm)” Smash and finding out that not once in the entire first episode did Anjelica Huston throw a glass of fluid in someone’s face.

The previews for the show had lied to us, because we distinctly remember an entire commercial dedicated to what looked like a super-cut of her character, Broadway producer Eileen Rand, splashing people (usually her ex-husband) like she was on a really classy version of Punk’d. Luckily, the subsequent two episodes have had a lot more pizzazz. Look at that guy’s face! Every time! Womp-womp! Read More

By Daniel D'Addario 2/19/12 8:45am

The Eight-Day Week

Rachel Dratch (Getty Images)

To Do Sunday: Dratch Entertainment

Sure, going out on a winter Sunday is a drag—but who wants to watch 60 Minutes when Rachel Dratch is saluting the writer of Hugo? Tonight’s Writers Guild of America Awards are simultaneously going on at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles (fancy!) and the B.B. King Blues Club in New York City (sure!). Ms. Read More

By Drew Grant 2/08/12 11:19am

Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama vs. Jimmy Fallon (NBC)

Michelle Obama’s Talk Show Challenge: Is the First Lady in Better Shape Than the Rest of the World? (Video)

If you’re a fan of talk shows where famous people talk to other famous people so that the second famous person can promote their latest whatever, then you might have noticed an odd trend: First Lady Michelle Obama has been making the rounds lately: first on Ellen, then Jay Leno, and now Jimmy Fallon, all in an effort to raise awareness for the Let’s Move! health initiative. Or is it? Read More