In this episode of The Diary Of A CEO, Jimmy Fallon discusses his path from altar boy to Saturday Night Live cast member and host of The Tonight Show. He shares how his early desire to make people laugh shaped his career choices, his strategic approach to landing a role on SNL, and his method for connecting with guests on The Tonight Show by creating genuine, comfortable environments for conversations.
The conversation with Steven Bartlett also covers Fallon's personal life, including the impact of losing his mother in 2017 and how this experience changed his approach to health and family life. Beyond his television work, Fallon describes his ventures into various business opportunities, from founding a production company to creating color-changing shoes and developing charitable food products.
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In their conversation, Steven Bartlett and Jimmy Fallon explore how Fallon's early desire to please others and make people laugh shaped his career path. Fallon shares that his experience as an altar boy provided his first taste of performing, which influenced his entertainment aspirations. Despite minimal compensation at early gigs and numerous rejections, Fallon remained committed to his craft, particularly driven by his dream of joining Saturday Night Live (SNL).
Fallon's strategic approach to joining SNL included studying at the Groundlings improv troupe and building industry connections through his manager, Randy Segal. His breakthrough came during his SNL audition when he performed an Adam Sandler impression, earning a rare laugh from Lorne Michaels. Fallon recalls his mirror sketch with Mick Jagger as a particularly memorable moment that exceeded his dreams.
On "The Tonight Show," Fallon emphasizes creating genuine connections with his guests through personal interactions and authentic curiosity. He visits guests in their dressing rooms before shows and adapts his interview style to each individual, focusing on creating a comfortable environment that leads to engaging conversations.
Fallon opens up about his mother Gloria's passing in 2017, describing her as his biggest supporter who he spoke with daily. Her death has led him to focus more on health and longevity, incorporating exercise into his family life and getting regular checkups to ensure he can be present for his children.
Beyond television, Fallon has ventured into various business opportunities, including founding a production company, creating shoes with color-changing leather, and developing the "Tonight Dough" ice cream with proceeds going to charity. Bartlett notes that Fallon has also expanded into the beverage market with canned matcha lattes and authored children's books, all aligned with his mission of creating joyful experiences for others.
1-Page Summary
Steven Bartlett and Jimmy Fallon delve into the memories and experiences that shaped Fallon’s ambitions and comedic career, marked by an early passion to please others and a determination to pursue a dream, despite facing numerous obstacles.
Since childhood, Fallon has held an intrinsic desire to ensure others are enjoying themselves, much like a host determined to provide a good time at a party. This trait has carried into his career, heavily emphasizing the importance of pleasing his audience. Reflective of his people-pleasing nature, Fallon recalls wanting to make his parents and grandparents proud. An anecdote from his past as an altar boy revealed one of his first experiences of performing in front of an audience, something Fallon recognizes as influencing his aspirations in the entertainment industry.
Fallon’s dedication to his craft is evident from his earliest gigs at the improv in LA, where the compensation was minimal, but invaluable in terms of the experience gained. His willingness to perform whenever possible eventually led him to better opporutnities, including a memorable moment when he had to follow Jerry Seinfeld on stage early in his career.
His unique acts, such as doing impressions with a troll doll, highlight his creative approach to comedy. He had long harbored the ambition to join "Saturday Night Live", a show that represented the pinnacle of cool and edgy show business for Fallon. This dream was supported by consistent hopes and childhood prophecies from his peers, suggesting he was destined for fame.
Fallon’s journey to join SNL wasn’t easy, filled with rejections and struggles. He learned the importance of honing his acting skills, facing embarrassment, and being deemed as "too green" during his initial auditions. Yet, the push from an acting teacher to learn to perform with others proved to be a turning point for his stand-up career.
The path to achieving his dream required sacrifices, including dropping out of college and taking a leap of faith by moving to LA. This bold move was validated through a connection at Metroland who believed in Fallon's potential and helped him find a manager in LA. The constant rejections in auditions for shows and movies, and the emotional challenges that came with them, didn't deter Fallon. He candidly shares how these e ...
Fallon's Childhood and Early Career Aspirations
Jimmy Fallon's determination and strategy played a critical role in his journey to join "Saturday Night Live" (SNL), and he reflects on how achieving this dream had a profound impact on his career, leading him to "Late Night" and ultimately "The Tonight Show."
Fallon focused his aspirations on SNL during his formative years, making it a priority over attending parties and even eating well. He recalls working at the Improv for a paycheck of $7.25, believing the exposure on stage was invaluable despite the decrease in financial stability. Determined to be a part of SNL, he studied at the Groundlings, an improv troupe in Los Angeles, and sought connections that could lead him to his goal. He took classes like many who had made it onto the famed show, honing his improvisational skills. Additionally, Fallon hired Randy Segal, a manager with connections to Brillstein Gray, as part of his strategic industry network. His commitment was further solidified by negotiating a holding deal with Warner Brothers Television that allowed him to leave if he had the chance to audition for SNL.
Fallon recalls being obsessed with SNL from an early age, sharing a memory of touring the set with his father and watching it live every Saturday night. This early dedication led to a relentless pursuit, marked by his decision to specialize in impressions and impersonations as his way onto the show. His first audition did not go as planned; however, he did not allow this to discourage him. Instead, Fallon improved his act and prepared for another opportunity, which eventually came.
Fallon describes his SNL audition, during which he performed a new impression: Adam Sandler. This choice was strategic since Sandler had just left the show and no one else was impersonating him at the time. Despite the nerves and the anticipation surrounding Lorne Michaels' observed silence during auditions, Fallon's impression led to a rare moment where Michaels laughed. Followin ...
Fallon's Journey and Success on Saturday Night Live
Jimmy Fallon is known for his unique approach to hosting "The Tonight Show," where he leverages his authentic curiosity and interest in people to create a genuine connection with his guests. This approach has led to memorable interviews and a warm atmosphere on the show.
Fallon expresses a profound interest in his guests, stating that he's eager to learn about them, whether they are high-profile celebrities or less well-known figures. His aim is to delve deep into conversations and not just superficial exchanges.
He focuses on making guests comfortable because he doesn't want them to feel as though they're being set up to look bad. Fallon indicates that he jumps right into the interview with a smooth flow, incorporating humor to keep things light.
To further build rapport, Fallon personally visits guests in their dressing room to engage in real-life conversations. These interactions can sometimes last longer than the interview itself, suggesting a genuine investment in creating a comfortable environment for the guests.
Fallon admits to struggling with the fact that not everyone will like him, but he keeps his spirits up with the knowledge that staying true to oneself is the best way to combat negativity. This authenticity translates into his interviews, where he tailors the approach for eac ...
Fallon's Approach To Hosting and Connecting With Guests
Jimmy Fallon opens up about his deep bond with his mother, Gloria, and how her passing has profoundly altered his perspective on life, family, and the time he has left.
Jimmy Fallon shares that his mother was his biggest fan and provided a constant stream of support and encouragement. He spoke to her daily, sometimes multiple times a day, and she built his confidence. He recalls how she would engage with him about his appearances on "Saturday Night Live" and other shows, emphasizing her role as his number-one supporter.
Fallon paints a picture of his mother's sense of humor, recounting stories and incidents shared within the family, such as the scary moment when she choked at a restaurant, which showed the family’s close-knit nature. These anecdotes showcase the personal connection and shared joy they had in recounting family events.
The loss of his mother in November 2017 was the toughest thing Fallon has had to go through. He was concerned about forgetting her but found that she remains a constant part of his memories. He contrasts her emotional role with that of his father, noting her as the affectionate figure who provided emotional support. He fondly remembers the moment he shared his success of getting on "Saturday Night Live" with her.
Fallon speaks to how he continues to reflect on the positive memories of his mother rather than dwell on the sadness, identifying her as a key influence in shaping who he is. He takes comfort in knowing he was able to express his love for her before she passed, a rapid event he feels might have been preferable to a prolonged decline.
The intensity of his grief left him feeling like there was a hole in his heart and lungs, an experience which eventually gave way to remembering the happy memories.
Fallon's story about his mother indicates the significance of family ties. He reminisces about spending joyous times with her in the kitchen, demonstrating their cl ...
Impact Of Losing Fallon's Mother On His Perspective
Jimmy Fallon is renowned for his work on television, but his entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond the screen, touching various ventures centered on creating joyful experiences.
Fallon founded a production company that’s been responsible for several shows, series, and films, further expanding his presence in the entertainment world. Steven Bartlett reflects on Fallon's wide-ranging entrepreneurial activities, including founding this production company, creating shoes, and the indulgent ice cream 'Tonight Dough'. Fallon himself agrees that the common theme for all his ventures is the pursuit of bringing happiness to people, something that traces back to his childhood desire to please others.
Jimmy Fallon's ambition in content creation extends to the music industry with his series of comedy albums, like "Holiday Seasoning." Even when the outcomes aren't always as expected, like with his attempt to create a new verb "Holiday Seasoning," his drive to generate joyful experiences remains undeterred.
In the realm of philanthropy, Fallon has managed to blend charitable giving with consumer delight through the sale of "Tonight Dough" ice cream, where proceeds go to charity.
Fallon isn’t just focused on adult audiences; he’s also tapped into the children’s market. Fallon talks about writing children's books and specifically mentions the creative process behind "Dada," which humorously aimed to get children to call for their fathers as their first word, expressing his desire to create entertaining experiences for both kids and parents.
Jimmy Fallon's decision to drop out of college to pursue opportunities in Los Angeles showcases a notable leap of faith that aligns with his inclination toward entertainment and making people smile. This early risk-taking set a precedent for Fallon’s entrepreneurial path.
Steven Bartlett discusses the intricate nature of product development, revealing Fallon's dedication in venturing into different ...
Fallon's Entrepreneurial Endeavors Beyond His TV Work
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