Jimmy Fallon is hoping his stage debut will immortalize him at one of Broadway’s most legendary establishments.
The Tonight Show host, who makes his Broadway debut tonight with a six-day stint in Simon Rich’s All In: Comedy About Love, took to his show Monday night to make his plea.
“I’m so thankful. Everyone’s been so nice to me, and the whole Broadway community has been so great,” Fallon said on Monday night’s Tonight Show. “But I want a drawing at Sardi’s.”
The New York City eatery has famously adorned its walls with drawings of stars of the stage and screen since it opened on West 44th Street in 1927, amassing a collection of approximately 1,200 portraits today.
While his Broadway career has just begun, Sardi’s may well grant Fallon his wish. Three of his Tonight Show predecessors have been cemented in caricature there: Steve Allen, Jack Paar, and Johnny Carson all have portraits drawn by playwright and caricaturist Donald Bevan hanging at Sardi’s. (Fallon is already following in Allen’s footsteps by taking the stage this week. As he’s pointed out on his show, Steve Allen originated his Tonight Show from the Hudson Theatre, which All In now calls home.)
“If anyone at Sardi’s [is watching], I can’t wait to come,” Fallon added last night, “and I really would love a portrait of me.”
Sardi’s hasn’t yet publicly responded to Fallon’s ask. A request for comment by LateNighter went unanswered by the restaurant at press time.
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