The best of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 2018
By Matt Moore
In a year of changes, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon still consistently delivered some of the best content in late night.
When you talk about late night television, everything has to start with The Tonight Show. It has been the crown jewel of late night since it began. And since 2014, it has been in the possession of Jimmy Fallon who has brought the show to new heights while making it very much his own.
2018 brought some changes to The Tonight Show. One was the departure of writer and performer Mike Dicenzo . You probably recognize Dicenzo as the “Mets bucket hat guy” that would appear in the audience. He had also been acting as a producer to the show leading up to his stepping down.
Another change was instituted by NBC. They brought in new showrunner Jim Bell to take over The Tonight Show. Many saw the move as an attempt to close the ratings gap between Fallon and Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show based on Bell’s experience in news and special events.
Competing with Colbert became a big story for The Tonight Show in 2018. Colbert’s willingness to go all-in on covering and satirizing President Trump led to a boost in viewership and online clicks. Political humor has never been Fallon’s preference but it is hard to ignore that audiences clearly want to hear a comedic take on everything Trump.
And while Fallon has responding by hitting Trump with a few more jokes during his monologue and appearing as the president in sketches, he is still very much aware of his skill set and is comfortable in his own skin. It’s what has made him successful and helped build one of the most loyal fanbases in entertainment.
You can relive The Tonight Show‘s 2018 with the clips below. Last Night On has selected the best of the best from an interesting but still wildly entertaining year by Jimmy Fallon and company.
Musical Challenge with Ariana Grande
Post Malone Takes Jimmy to Olive Garden
Kevin Hart is Terrified of Robert Irwin’s Animals
Cardi B Explains Her Catchphrases
Whisper Challenge Veteran Reunion Surprise
Fortnite Dance Challenge with BTS
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These highlights show just how much fun Jimmy Fallon continues to have on The Tonight Show regardless of the guest, game, or music. Nowhere else in late night can you see celebrities and the biggest names in entertainment like you see them on The Tonight Show. 2018 was a big year for the show and the party looks to continue in 2019!