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Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Tonight Show’ Premiere: Top 10 Highlights & Recap

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Tonight was Jimmy Fallon’s first night as the new host of The Tonight Show and he pulled out the big guns. Overall, it was a great start to his run as show host and we’ve got the Top 10 Highlights of the big night below.

1. Fallon Makes A Heartfelt Introduction

For the opening, Jimmy Fallon walked through a retro blue curtain as The Roots performed. As Fallon began his introduction, he announced that it’s the first time The Tonight Show has filmed in New York City in over 40 years. He then thanked all the hosts before him and talked about how his life led to this point. Fallon also talked about his love for his wife and daughter before introducing his proud parents in the audience.

2. Announcer Steve Higgins Is Introduced

Steve Higgins worked with Jimmy Fallon on Saturday Night Live and Fallon was sure to give him a heart-warming welcome … before completely cutting him off to continue with his opening monologue. Of course, it was all in jest.

3. Jimmy Fallon Does His Opening Monologue Twice?

So, Jimmy Fallon comes out and gives a wonderful introduction to the show, introducing his parents, musical band The Roots, and show announcer Steve Higgins. He then gives the audience a run-down on how the opening will typically go each night. At this point, he decides to take it from the top, so he re-enters the stage with the help of Higgins and jumps right into his opening monologue. Fallon completely covers the Sochi Olympics, using all its happenings as the butt of his jokes.

4. Over a Dozen Celebrities Made a Surprise Appearance

Robert DeNiro, Seth Rogen, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Mike Tyson, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Kim Kardashian, Tracy Morgan, Lindsay Lohan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Joan Rivers, Robert De Niro, and several others appeared on stage to each give Fallon $100. Why did they do this? Well, Fallon looks at the audience and says that the guy who told him he would never end up hosting The Tonight Show owes him $100 … It seems that it was way more than just one guy.

Stephen Colbert gave Fallon his money in pennies as he poured a bucket full of change on him and then took a selfie. Sarah Jessica Parker took off her shoe and frustratingly pulled her money out of it before handing it over to Fallon.

5. Will Smith & Jimmy Fallon Teach The Evolution of Hip-Hop Dancing

Rocking overalls, Will Smith and Jimmy Fallon give the audience a look at the “evolution of dancing,” performing moves like “The Running Man,” the “Hey Ho,” the “Humpty Dance,” and more.

Be sure to click on the “Next Page” button for the remaining five highlights from the show.

6. U2 Performs “Invisible”

At the top of Rockefeller Center, on the roof, U2 joins a bunch of bundled up fans to perform their new hit “Invisible.” An even cooler aspect was that U2 was accompanied by members of the Rutgers marching band. In addition, one thing that viewers caught was that there was a falling star in the sky as U2 performed. Watch the sky closely in the below Vine and see if you can spot it …

7. Will Smith Is Fallon’s First Guest on The Tonight Show

Will Smith comes out and gives Fallon a huge hug and then congratulates him on his new job as host. He also tells Fallon how honored he feels to be his first guest. As the conversation moves on to Smith, the two talk about how Smith just went skydiving in Dubai. He discusses the intense fear he felt, but how it was the most magnificent feeling at the same time.

8. The Celebrity Guests Had Their Own Fun Backstage

Getting so many celebrities together to support Fallon on his first night as host of course amounted to some backstage fun. Check out some of the pics the stars posted of their behind-the-scenes moments.

9. Fallon Makes Bono Give a Speech With His Mug

Fallon tells U2’s Bono that he would love to hear him give a speech and that if the group wins an Academy Award this year for their song “Ordinary Love,” he wants Bono to give the speech. In the meantime, he hands Bono his mug and requests that Bono give a speech about the mug. After making viewers a little uncomfortable with his fake hesitation, he complied.

After this, Fallon pulls out a bunch of instruments and requests that the band play an acoustic song. Halfway through the song, The Roots joins in, accompanying U2 in their performance.

10. Fallon Has a Ton of Other A-List Guests Lined Up For This Week

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Jimmy Fallon killed it as the new host of The Tonight Show. Check out all the photos, videos, celebrity footage, and full recap of tonight's premiere.