Jimmy Fallon issues a sincere apology to the staff of the “Tonight Show” following a Rolling Stone report that sheds light on his behavior throughout the years at the NBC late-night program.
During a Zoom meeting with the employees of the show, Fallon expressed his embarrassment and deep remorse, stating, “Sorry if I embarrassed you and your loved ones. I genuinely feel terrible, words cannot describe it.” In the brief meeting, Fallon emphasized his desire for the show to be an inclusive, fun, and humorous experience, striving to be the very best.
A number of former staff members from “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” have come forward and spoken to Rolling Stone about a toxic work environment that had persisted behind the scenes of the NBC show. According to these individuals, their mental health deteriorated during their time on the program, attributing it to Fallon’s outbursts under pressure. Unlike Comedy Central’s “Daily Show,” NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and CBS’ “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” which demonstrate significantly less turnover, “Tonight Show” has had nine different showrunners since Fallon took over from Jay Leno in 2014, exacerbating the situation.
NBC has declined to make executives available for comment.
Insiders of the show attest to a period of stability since the appointment of showrunner Chris Miller in March of last year. Miller, who had a 23-year partnership with Drew Barrymore and her Flower Films, has been involved with various talented individuals and executives in the entertainment industry. Through his work with Barrymore, Miller formed a connection with Nancy Juvonen, Barrymore’s longtime production partner and Fallon’s spouse. Initially, Miller attempted to highlight Fallon’s strengths in impressions, sketches, and music, while steering clear of heavy political satire.
However, the stories reported by Rolling Stone, believed to have occurred during an earlier period of the show, have raised eyebrows. A former employee revealed, “Nobody ever had the guts to say ‘no’ to Jimmy. The atmosphere was tense, especially with showrunners constantly walking on eggshells. You never knew which Jimmy you were going to get or when he would throw a tantrum. That’s why there were so many showrunners who didn’t last long.”
Reportedly, the show had a designated “cry room” on set where employees could seek solace amidst the hostile work environment.
One former employee stated, “It felt like the entire day was ruined if Jimmy was in a bad mood. People didn’t joke around or converse with each other in the office. It was all about focusing on your tasks because if Jimmy noticed otherwise, he might explode.”
Another staff member claimed that Fallon appeared to be intoxicated during a rehearsal and couldn’t remember crossing out a joke in his notes. The employee recalled, “He didn’t even realize that he had just crossed it out himself. I was thinking, ‘Oh my God, he seems drunk. He doesn’t know what he’s doing. This could be terrible – the end of the show right here.'”
The production of Fallon’s “Tonight Show” is presently on hiatus due to the ongoing strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA unions, representing writers and actors, respectively.
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