There’s been some concern-trollish hand-wringing going on in certain quarters since word got out last fall that the Roots would be the house band on Jimmy Fallon’s new late-night show. Cool artists signing up for a safe, steady mainstream gig: Oh, the horror! Now, the Roots have been one of my favorite bands for years. I was a little dubious about their latest career decision, myself — especially when I read that their participation in the show might be limited to playing seconds-long "sandwiches" instead of actual Roots songs — but I’ve been trying hard to take a wait-and-see attitude about this. Now that Fallon’s been on the air for a week, though, it’s show-and-prove time.
The Fallon episodes I’ve caught this week have included some sweet musical moments, like when the Roots played a couple of songs with Ludacris last night. I’d think that was dope if I saw it at a Roots concert, and it’s still dope to see it on TV. More collabs like this with the guests du jour can only be a good thing. Meanwhile, they’ve also rocked at least one moderately LOL-worthy comedy bit, Monday night’s "Slow Jam the News" (below). I knew Black Thought could rap about literally anything with no preparation, but crooning seductively about the House stimulus package? Damn, Tariq!
That said, I’m still not 100 percent sold on Fallon as a late-night host. There were times when seeing this band reduced to his sidemen made me want to call up Jeff Zucker and tell him to just greenlight a TV show where the Roots sit there playing awesome jams from their albums for a full hour every night, already. It would be more entertaining than Fallon, I swear! But look: These guys have been on the road continuously for something close to 15years. They can’t live that life forever, even if I’d like them to, andI think they’ve earned the right to settle down however they want. If that means playing five-second intros and outros for Fallon’s interviewees, plus at least a few spotlight performances like the ones they got this week, I think I’m mostly okay with that. For now. Especially if they still make albums and do occasional concerts during gaps in Fallon’s TV shooting schedule. If they really become full-time TV sidekicks with no other public activities, though, all bets are off. How about you?
More on Jimmy Fallon and the Roots:
Ken Tucker’s been watching and rating Fallon every night
Black Thought speaks on the Fallon gig
A track-by-track Q&A about the Roots’ last album, Rising Down
I knew when it was announced that Jimmy Fallon would take over Late Night that it was going to be awful. The only person who thinks Jimmy Fallon is funny is Jimmy Fallon. Then they go and do something lame like getting a band who is considered cool, even though they are overrated, and putting them on. It’s like they thought “Hey, we have black people who actually play instruments, what a new concept” and considered it cool.
well, i guess there’s two of us who thinks Jimmy Fallon is funny–other than Jimmy himself, i think he’s funny. even when he was on SNL, i thought he was fuuny. i never heard of The Roots before this week on his show, but i do like them. i hope they all stay around a while.
All I’ve seen of Jimmy Fallon’s new gig are the first ten minutes of his first show on monday…I switched to Craig Ferguson after that. But I’ll admit that, not having heard they were to be his house band, I was shocked to see The Roots there. They seem far too famous to be tied down to a venture like this.
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Yea,,Jimmy Fallon is Not funny, he shouldn’t be hosting for sure, or acting.
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“a band who is considered cool, even though they are overrated”
it’s apparent this guy can’t recognize good music. the fact is, the roots are the best. your loss if you sleep on them.
ps- where’s leonard hubbard?!?!
Jimmy Fallon is funny, otherwise no NBC executive would ever have let him go on late nite. As his first week went on he got looser, and better at being funny while interviewing. As for the Roots..Holy bowser they rock! What a great band, and what a great addition to a late nite show. Who would have thought that Jimmy Fallon’s band would be so much better than Leno’s band (yuck), and even top David Letterman’s long time relationship with Paul Schaffer. Fallon haters may as well be quiet because Jimmy is going to be around for a long, long time.
I like that bit, if it is something that they don’t run into the ground, it should be continue because Tariq’s voice is awesome. Also, I agree Ced, White Thought (he post name says is all) doesn’t know great music or bands. Something tells me he still thinks and only black musicians are good for is rapping and causing trouble.
Roots? Never heard of them. I guess I’ll never hear about them again after Chevy Chase Jr.’s show gets canceled after two months.
Roots? Never heard of them. I guess I’ll never hear about them again after Chevy Chase Jr.’s show gets canceled after two months.
I want to start off by saying that I think The Roots are decent and I respect them as artists who actually have stuff to say in their music, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t overrated. Unfortunately Jimmy Fallon will probably be on for a while because nbc will use the excuse that Conan didn’t do so well his first few years. Let me tell you, he’s not going to be Conan. One more thing, I use the name White Thought and it’s looked upon negatively but a guy in The Roots calls himself Black Thought and he’s a genius. What’s that about?
Maxwell, you’re sadly mistaken. Fallon was funny in doses on SNL, but he’s awful on Late Night and his days are numbered. Your comment that NBC would never put him on if he weren’t funny just shows how little you know about this business. Ever notice how many sit-com’s DON’T make it? Studios have to take chances. But studios often get too far down the road to pull the plug before a show is scheduled to air. A project gets green-lighted, some concerns start to reveal themselves but nobody has the guts to yank it before it’s already in the press–could you imagine pulling Jimmy before he starts? So, they let him give it a try, they all cringe non-stop the first week and start talking replacements. It won’t happen for awhile, but it’ll happen…
The only reason why I even gave Jimmy Fallon a shot this week is because i heard a couple weeks ago the roots were the house band. They have by far been the best part of the show. by tuesday i was watching just for the show and guest intros and the lead in and lead outs to commercials. On another note, does anybody know is the Max Weinberg 7 is going to follow Conan to the Tonight Show?
Everyone is too hard on Jimmy so early… but I’m sure him and NBC were 100 percent expecting that. Obviously, he’ll get better as he goes along and learns his trade and gets more comfortable. He’ll never be Conan. But Conan will never be Jay and Jay will never be Johnny. On and on. As for the Roots, I think it’s a cool choice for them. Of course they’ll be able to continue their music and play shows in their free time. Max Weinberg did it that way with Springsteen for many years. The Roots will surely get options to take some time off too later down the line to record records and what not, then they’ll have a sub band for awhile.
I like the new show & think Jimmy Fallon has started out strong. Most of the critics out decided to hate the show because Fallon was chosen or they haven’t bothered to watch. It’s only been one week & check out the funny stuff they’ve done– Slow Jam the News, Dance Off, 7th Floor West, Beef Solvers, Save the Bankers plus Jimmy was great riffing with old pals Justin Timberlake & Tina Fey & working on his patented tell-a-joke-throw-a-strike bowling move.
Of course, many TV shows get cancelled after only a couple of episodes these days. I hope people give Fallon a chance. Remember, Conan was almost unwatchable at the beginning. Go back & watch the first season of Seinfeld– it was terrible.
LNWJF is set for auto-DVR in my house.