Confirming months of reports, NBC on Monday introduced Jimmy Fallon as Conan O’Brien’s replacement on its late-night roster. “Simply put, Jimmy has all of the qualities for a late-night host,” NBC executive Rick Ludwin said of the former “Saturday Night Live” cast member. But Fallon also had the tendency to crack up and completely break character during five-minute “SNL” sketches — and now he’s expected to run an hourlong talk show? Sounds like a tall order, not unlike the one ABC gave Jimmy Kimmel a few years back when it handed him the keys to his own talk show. Which Jimmy can take Conan’s place in the hearts and minds of TV watchers? Faceoff!
Under pressure
FALLON: Filling Conan O’Brien’s shoes is no easy task. Literally. Have you seen how tall Conan is? He has to wear a size 12 at the very least.
KIMMEL: True, he was under the gun to establish a top-notch late-night comedy presence on ABC, where there had been none. But it couldn’t have been difficult to improve on the comedy of “Nightline” and “20/20.”
Before he was a talk show host …
… he was on “SNL” from 1998-2004. In between came a string of movies best described as “straight to the $4.99 DVD bin” releases.
… he was a game show and talk show host. Kimmel brought laughs to Comedy Central’s “Win Ben Stein’s Money” and became a god among men as the beer-chugging co-host of “The Man Show.” (Let us pause for men everywhere to retell their favorite “Man Show” moment and shed a tear.)
Secret weapon
To be determined. Our idea: Bring in Fallon’s old “SNL” buddy Horatio Sanz. You can’t go wrong with Fallon on one end of the couch and Sanz on the other. Or you could go horribly wrong. Either way it makes for great TV.
Kimmel’s girlfriend Sarah Silverman keeps Jimmy on his toes, whether she’s a guest on his show or revealing a [bleeping] affair with Matt Damon on YouTube.
Sex Appeal
The dorky-but-cute-enough-that-if-I-had-enou gh-martinis-in-me-and-no-one-to-share-a-cab-with-… vibe.
The sure-he’s-pasty-but-really-funny-and-wai t-how-did-this-guy-win-Sarah-Silverman vibe.
Host with the most
An opening monologue isn’t much different from what Fallon did on “SNL’s” “Weekend Update,” but his interviewing skills are suspect. As a story about Monday’s NBC news conference noted, “Fallon appeared a little bit nervous at the start.”
Kimmel is a natural behind his desk. He’s just as comfortable chatting up stars like Damon and Ben Affleck as he is quizzing the dude who sang “Chocolate Rain.”
Winner: Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel has the goods — and, more importantly, the backing of his network — to remain a late-night fixture for a long time. Unfortunately for Fallon, if he slips, there are plenty of people burning to take his place.
