NBC To Mark Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Tonight Show’ 10th Anniversary With Primetime Special

Denise Petski
·2 min read
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NBC has set a two-hour primetime special to celebrate the 10th anniverary of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Fallon announced the special on his show Monday night, saying the past week was officially the show’s 10-year anniversary. The special will air May 14.

“We are so grateful that we get to do this job. I want to thank everyone on our staff and crew and of course all of you for tuning in every single night for the past 10 years to celebrate, really, thank you so much,” Fallon said in his opening. “To celebrate, NBC is going to air a two-hour primetime Best of Tonight Show special on May 14, the best moments of the Tonight Show from the past 10 years featuring some of our favorite sketches, guests and musical performances, from “Tight Pants” with Will Ferrell to me almost dating Nicole Kidman — I still can’t believe that happened — and musical bits like “Classroom Instruments” with Metallica and Adele, we had so many fun moments.”

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The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon made its debut on NBC on February 17, 2014, with the Roots as the house band. Fallon started off his very first show thanking his predecessors Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and Jay Leno. Fallon’s guests on his inaugural show were Will Smith and U2, with surprise celebrity appearances including Robert De Niro, Tina Fey, Seth Rogen, Kim Kardashian, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rudy Giuliani, Mariah Carey, Mike Tyson, and Lady Gaga. The intro directed by Spike Lee reminded viewers that Tonight was back in New York City by showing Fallon in familiar spots including Katz’s Deli.

Fallon told the audience on his first night hosting the show in 2014 that it “means a lot to me. I hope I do well. I just want to do the best I can and take care of the show for a while.” He added that “anyone I can make fun of I will … so you go to sleep with a smile on your face and live a longer life.”

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