Jimmy Fallon Reflects on 10 Years as ‘Tonight Show’ Host: A Milestone Achievement

Jimmy Fallon Celebrates 10 Years as Tonight Show Host Hard to Believe 111

Theo Wargo/NBC

Jimmy Fallon recently celebrated a major milestone. The 49-year-old comedian marked his 10-year anniversary as the host of The Tonight Show on Tuesday, May 14. During the show's opening monologue, Fallon reflected on his decade-long journey. "Ten years," he shared with the audience, "It's crazy to think that when I first started, President Biden was just a young 71-year-old."

Fallon, who became the host of The Tonight Show in 2014 after Jay Leno, recently reflected on his time on the show. He mentioned that they have been through a pandemic, two elections, and many Fast and Furious movies during their time on air. Fallon also expressed gratitude to his wife, daughters, and humorously, his lawyer, Michael Cohen, whom he joked about being the most important person in his life.

Celebrating this milestone, Fallon shared with Entertainment Tonight that hosting The Tonight Show has been a dream come true for him. Looking back on the past decade, he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and the joy it has brought him.

The former Saturday Night Live cast member expressed his excitement for the future. He mentioned that positive things continue to happen for the show, and he hopes to keep the momentum going to ensure everyone enjoys themselves. The main objective of the show is to bring laughter and joy to people, and he aims to continue doing so for as long as possible, as that would bring him the most satisfaction.

Jimmy Fallon Celebrates 10 Years as Tonight Show Host Hard to Believe 110

Fallon recalled a memorable moment from his hosting career, highlighting a guest appearance by Tom Cruise in 2015. The two engaged in a lip-sync battle, with Cruise dedicating five hours to practice. Fallon shared, "I couldn't even enter the studio because Tom Cruise is a perfectionist, and I didn't want to disturb his focus."

Fallon has faced some controversy during his time as a host. In September 2023, Rolling Stone looked into claims made by 16 show employees about the work environment. Most of those interviewed were former employees, with only two currently working on the show.

Former employees have reported that it was common to hear coworkers joking about "wanting to kill themselves" because of the toxic workplace atmosphere. They also mentioned that they referred to guests' dressing rooms as "crying rooms" because that's where they would go to release their emotions.

After the allegations about the negative work environment became public, Fallon reportedly apologized to the staff of the Tonight Show, acknowledging the claims about the "horrible" work environment.

Fallon expressed his embarrassment and regret to staff members during a Zoom call in the same month, as reported by Rolling Stone. He apologized for potentially embarrassing them, as well as their family and friends, and emphasized how sorry he felt.

Editor's P/S:

Jimmy Fallon's decade-long tenure as host of The Tonight Show has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. While he's celebrated