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Jimmy Fallon’s movie career may have floundered, but “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels had other plans for him. That came into focus in 2008, when NBC announced Fallon would become the new host of “Late Night” (which Michaels produced), taking over for outgoing host Conan O’Brien.
While hosting a late-night show was new territory for Fallon, Michaels felt his non-competitive style of comedy made him a natural. “He never felt diminished by other people being funny. The opposite. He enjoyed when other people were funny,” Michaels told Vanity Fair, comparing that particular personality trait to the rapport his legendary “Tonight Show” predecessor, Johnny Carson, had with guests. NBC network executives weren’t so sure. “NBC waffled for a little bit, they’re like, ‘Is Jimmy Fallon the guy we want?’” Fallon told USA Today. Michaels, however, stuck to his guns, wielding his clout at the network. “He said, ‘If you don’t do it with Jimmy, I won’t produce,’” Fallon recalled.
Fallon was initially just as hesitant as the network was until his wife, Nancy Juvonen, encouraged him to at least give it a try. “Nancy was like, ‘You’ve got to try it … If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work,’” Fallon recalled to Vanity Fair. He was, however, up for the challenge. “I’m ready to work really hard,” Fallon said during a press conference (via New York Post).
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Source: NewsFinale
