Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (2009) - TV Shows - Channel Shack

December 31st 1969

The show begins with the opening sequence as Steve Higgins announces that night's guests and "the legendary Roots crew". Just before Higgins introduces Fallon, the camera cuts to a shot of The Roots, whom then shout three numbers symbolizing the episode number of "Late Night" (though other numbers and statements have been shouted in place based on current events and historical show moments.) Higgins then introduces Fallon, who begins his nightly monologue. Fallon often gives the cue cards for a joke to audience members if the joke falls particularly flat. Fallon's monologue is usually short, followed by a brief comedy sketch, or alternatively, going over the night's guest and conversing with Higgins or members of The Roots.

After the show's first break, it returns and begins a comedy sketch. During its run, Mondays were usually reserved for the show's The Hills parody, 7th Floor West. Fridays are also reserved for Fallon to write thank you notes to figures that have given him material for the past week. He also typically has the entire crew of the show write letters home. Occasionally the show features extra skits such as "Wheel of Carpet Samples", "Cell Phone Shootout", "Lick it for Ten", or "Hot Dog in a Hole".

After the sketch ends and a commercial break follows, the first guest will arrive. That guest will most often stay after the next break, and a second guest will enter after the show's fourth break. Once these interviews have been completed and the show has taken its fifth and final commercial break, the musical guest (or sometimes, a chef) will perform. Jimmy Fallon will return once the musical guest has finished and bid the viewers farewell. As credits roll, Fallon runs up and down the stairs of the studio giving high fives to the audience before exiting backstage.