Jimmy Fallon just threw himself into the saucy hot seat on Hot Ones with Sean Evans, home of the spiciest wings this side of Hades. Yep, the king of late-night laughs faced off against wings so fiery they could melt the set of The Tonight Show faster than you can say “pass the milk.”
Jimmy’s Eggnog Jams & Holiday Ding Dongs
Talking about his holiday album, Jimmy said, “Yeah, it’s full of jingles and happy vibes—serious ding-dongs here, people! We’ve got bells ringing, it’s basically Whoville but with less green fur and more cowbells.” He says it’ll bring back all those cozy winter vibes, minus the Whos and Cindy Lou Who herself. Mariah Carey’s been warned.
Jimmy’s SNL Beginnings and That Sandler Impression
So, about how Jimmy made it onto SNL? It all began with impressions, including one of Adam Sandler. “He’s a perfect impression,” Jimmy said, going into Sandler’s signature three-staged voice. He did his best Sandler for Lorne Michaels, who apparently never laughs. Never. But one “Shut up!” later, Lorne was chuckling like it was Opposite Day, and Jimmy thought, well, even if I don’t get the job, at least I made the ice king of comedy laugh. And the rest is, well, history and a lot of breaking character in sketches.
Barry Gibb Talk Show: Justin Timberlake, Perfectionist
Then there’s that time Jimmy and Justin Timberlake were dressed as the Bee Gees on SNL. JT took the role seriously, like “full-method Bee Gee” serious. Jimmy recalls the intense pep talk pre-show: “He grabs my hand, goes, ‘Hit that harmony, Jimmy, don’t mess this up for us,’ like he’s about to harmonize us into Grammy history. I felt like I was Lance Bass for a second.” Let’s just say Jimmy hit that harmony, and Justin got his Grammy-level moment.
The Legendary Cowbell Sketch (And Jimmy’s Laugh Attack)
When it comes to the ultimate SNL sketch, it’s Cowbell all the way, baby. Everybody was hilarious. Christopher Walken was in full self-impression mode, and when Chris Kattan knocked off Will Ferrell’s sunglasses, revealing Will’s true inner maniac, Jimmy cracked up and basically set a new personal standard: laugh during as many sketches as possible. Thanks to Cowbell, Jimmy Fallon, the Serious Actor, was never heard from again.
Doing Push-Ups with Springsteen, a.k.a. Jimmy’s Gym Dream Come True
And then there’s the Springsteen moment. Jimmy’s dressed as 1980s Bruce, Bruce is dressed as 1970s Bruce, and in a surreal “Bruce-squared” setup, they start doing push-ups together backstage. Yes, Jimmy Fallon was in a pseudo-Bruce-off with The Boss himself. File this under Things That Only Happen in Jimmy Fallon’s Life.
Spicy Shenanigans with Selena Gomez
Speaking of things spiraling, let’s talk about the time Selena Gomez met the Hot Ones wings on Jimmy’s show. Jimmy shares, “Selena tried it and BAM—straight to hurl town. She was at her sink, doing her best Exorcist impression, and said, ‘Get the f– out’ in this deep, unholy voice. Three years, people. We didn’t speak for three years. That’s how bad those wings were.”
The Comedian’s Code: Silence is Scary
When it comes to real fears, Jimmy’s got one: The Silence. “As a comedian, silence… the deafening silence is the biggest fear. Crying on camera comes close, but giving up on stage? Not an option.”
So, moral of the story? Jimmy Fallon fears silence, embraces ridiculous characters, and is fully committed to delivering all the ding-dongs and laughs his fans can handle. Oh, and maybe keep those hot wings far away from Selena Gomez.
