Jimmy continues to rake in good figures for Tonight Show

MANILA, Philippines - More than two years after he took over from Conan O’Brien as host of The Tonight Show, late-night program host Jimmy Fallon continues to bring in good numbers for the ratings of his show. Apparently, he also rakes in good figures for the TV revenues. No wonder, he remains to be seen regularly on the late-night time slot.

Jimmy is the sixth host of The Tonight Show following Conan. His other well-known predecessors were Jay Leno, Johnny Carson, Jack Paar and Steve Allen (who started it in 1954). Johnny was the host with the longest stint, from 1962 to 1992.

The Tonight Show previously aired from Los Angeles, Chicago and Burbank. Since 2014, when Jimmy took over, the late-night caper has been airing from New York City. It is NBC’s flagship talk show to date.

Thankfully, Jimmy has consistently managed to make the program current and much talked-about. This is not just because of his stellar guests. Credit Jimmy’s effort to constantly interact with his audience and viewers.

He doesn’t just talk or interview his guests in the studio. He is willing to do hilarious, funny or even silly things so as not to bore his audience. He plays, dances, sings, jokes and laughs with his guests. He even gets into a dare or challenges them.

He keeps a suggestion box, with requests of all sorts from his audience. He does not think twice about doing what will please his viewers. Subsequently, he consistently gets a large chunk of the TV ratings.

Recently, he gave in to a request — or is it a dare — of a viewer to jump into a pool, since it’s summer in the US and the heat is scorching. Initially, Jimmy ignored the suggestion. However, after a strong egging on by the live audience, he went out of the studio and with the set-up apparently prepared by his team, Jimmy lost no time and instantly jumped into an above-the-ground portable pool in his suit. The act was met by a resounding applause from the crowd.

On separate occasions in the show recently, Jimmy was joined by two expectant actresses. Blake Lively, as most everyone knows, is the wife of Hollywood hunk Ryan Reynolds. Blake is pregnant with her and Ryan’s second child. Mila Kunis is the wife of yet another Hollywood hottie, Ashton Kutcher. They are also expecting their second child.

Blake’s guesting was to promote her latest movie, Café Society, directed by Woody Allen. She shared an amusing anecdote with viewers about how her 18-month-old daughter, interestingly named James, calls Jimmy “Dada.” That started when Blake took home the life-size cardboard cut-out of Jimmy given to her during her last guesting in the show.

Meanwhile, Mila gamely played hilarious, filtered scenes with Jimmy using the ipad. They acted out short, improvised scenes based on a random scenario. She couldn’t control her laughter that she was in tears during the game. The actress was promoting her latest big screen caper, Bad Moms.

America’s Got Talent celebrity judge Heidi Klum also guested and proudly mentioned her bet for Season 11, Sal Valentinetti, for whom she pressed the Golden Buzzer. Sal crooned Frank Sinatra’s My Way for his audition.

Star Trek Beyond star Idris Elba gamely belted out Endless Love in a duet with Jimmy when the former guested on the show. But the real pop superstar, Grammy Award winner Celine Dion, did impromptu impersonations of the likes of Cher, Rihanna, Sia and even Michael Jackson on the show.

Young Australian singer Troye Sivan returned to The Tonight Show after the success of his debut album, Blue Neighbourhood, released seven months ago. Troye is now promoting the re-release of the lead single, Wild, featuring vocals from rising female singer, Alessia Cara.

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is now seen locally on the E Channel. New episodes air at 10:10 every morning.