February 17, 2024 officially marked Jimmy Fallon’s 10-year anniversary behind The Tonight Show desk. But as far as the comedian is concerned, he’s only just getting started.
On Sunday, Fallon took part in a panel conversation at Deadline’s Contenders Television: Los Angeles, where he touched on the history of The Tonight Show and Johnny Carson’s record as its longest running host, with a little less than 30 years under his belt. So for Fallon, 30 seems to be the magic number.
“I’m gonna go, ‘You guys want me? Let’s break the record,’” the SNL alum said of his plan to be in it for the long haul. “Let’s go, let’s do 30 years!”
While three decades would indeed make Fallon the longest tenured host of The Tonight Show, he’d need to hang in there a little longer to break an even bigger record: longest-serving late night host in the history of American television. That record is currently held by David Letterman who, between Late Night and Late Show, hosted a total of 6,080 episodes of television spanning 33 years.
Before being named host of The Tonight Show, Fallon spent five years headlining Late Night, so does have a little extra padding there. But he could also face some stiff competition from another current late-night host.
Jimmy Kimmel, who debuted Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2003, is already 21 years into his hosting career. His current contract is set to expire in 2026, and although Kimmel has hinted that he might be ready to hang up his suit and tie when that happens, only time will tell.
NBC is set to commemorate Fallon’s ten years behind The Tonight Show desk with a two-hour prime time tenth anniversary special May 14th.
Fallon puede llegar a los 30 años en el sillon” pero trascender como carson jamas!!solo letterman y conan pudieron hacerlo