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The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
Jimmy Fallon: I Wasn’t Prepared For The Hate… It Was Brutal. I Was Starving, Living on $7.25!
01:40:45
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- [00:00]
Jimmy Fallon
Hablas espanol.
- [00:03]
Stephen Bartlett
If you've heard that sound from Babbel before, I bet you do. Babbel is the science backed language learning app that actually works with quick 10 minute lessons. Handcrafted by over 200 language experts. Babbel gets you on your way to speaking a new language in just a few weeks. With over 16 million subscriptions sold and a 20 day money back guarantee. Just start speaking another language with Babbel right now. Up to 55% off your Babbel subscription. @babbel.com Spotify podcast spelled B a B-B-E-L.com Spotify podcast rules and restrictions may apply.
- [00:30]
Jimmy Fallon
I was just breaking down mentally of like what have I done? I have. I don't know what else to do with my life. And I think I wrote a letter to my best friend. Like I'm losing a dude.
- [00:41]
Stephen Bartlett
What did it say?
- [00:43]
Jimmy Fallon
It's a deep one. Jesus.
- [00:49]
Stephen Bartlett
Jimmy. I was reading through your business portfolio and it's extremely extensive. You found a production company, a ride, shoes, you got the ice cream tonight dough. But the through line here is about making people happy.
- [01:01]
Jimmy Fallon
I've always wanted to please people since I was a kid and in your.
- [01:03]
Stephen Bartlett
8Th grade class you were voted most likely to replace David Letterman on the late night show.
- [01:07]
Jimmy Fallon
Is that crazy because I ended up doing that.
- [01:09]
Stephen Bartlett
Well, it does feel like you pulled that into existence somehow.
- [01:11]
Jimmy Fallon
Well, I was beyond obsessed. I wanted to be on Saturday a lot. So I worked at the improv where I think the paycheck was $7.25. You didn't really eat much. I would turn cardboard boxes on the street into tables. It's tough, it's a lot of rejection, but the stage time was priceless and.
- [01:28]
Stephen Bartlett
Eventually you get a phone call.
- [01:29]
Jimmy Fallon
I got an audition for Sirent Live. This was my big opportunity. I remember going on stage, did my first impression and I blew it. That was probably my lowest moment. It was very depressing.
- [01:40]
Stephen Bartlett
You'd said that if you didn't make it on SNL before the age of 25, I was gonna kill myself. Did you mean that?
- [01:47]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, but I just knew that I would be on certain was going to happen and against all odds, I did it.
- [01:53]
Stephen Bartlett
How old were you?
- [01:54]
Jimmy Fallon
23.
- [01:55]
Stephen Bartlett
So crazy. Jimmy, I found some photos. Can you tell me about this one?
- [01:59]
Jimmy Fallon
Oh my God. Wow.
- [02:07]
Stephen Bartlett
Quick one. Before we get back to this episode, just give me 30 seconds of your time. Two things I wanted to say. The first thing is a huge thank you for listening. And tuning into the show week after week means the world to all of us. And this really is a dream that we absolutely never had and couldn't have imagined getting to this place. But secondly, it's a dream where we feel like we're only just getting started. And if you enjoy what we do here, Please join the 24% of people that listen to this podcast regularly and follow us on this app. Here's a promise I'm going to make to you. I'm going to do everything in my power to make this show as good as I can now and into the future. We're going to deliver the guests that you want me to speak to, and we're going to continue to keep doing all of the things you love about this show. Thank you. Thank you so much. Back to the episode. Jimmy, what do I need to know about you to understand the man that you are? And when I ask that question, I'm specifically trying to understand your earliest context, because you're in many respects an anomaly. But you're an anomaly. That was very, very clear on where you wanted to go in your life from a shockingly young age. So I'm wondering what gave you such clarity and what the context was that made. Made you the unique way that you are.
- [03:22]
Jimmy Fallon
Gosh, that's a great question. That's gonna be the whole show right here. Cause I wanna find out, you know, maybe entertaining or being funny is probably. Or wanting to satisfy people, I think, you know, and wanting to please people. I've always wanted to please people since I was a kid. Like, I don't know if it was my parents or my grandparents or. I wanted to make people feel good and give everyone. If I'm at a party, I want to make sure it's the best party, you know, And I'm giving everything. I want to make sure so it's pleasing or appeasing, one of those words. But I think I've always wanted to do that, and that's kind of what I do now.
- [04:07]
Stephen Bartlett
Do you have, like, an earliest memory of that behavior?
- [04:11]
Jimmy Fallon
I think wanting to do good in, like, I don't know, at sports maybe, or, you know, in grade school or. I remember I was an ultra boy, you know, So I was. At one point in my life, I wanted to be a priest. Yeah. Which I thought. I think I'd be a pretty good priest. I think it'd be funny. And, you know, I could have good delivery. You know, someone said to me once, they said, maybe you got your first taste of wanting to be an entertainer from being an altar boy because you're up on stage, kind of technically, and there's an audience and you're up kind of performing. I mean, walking around and you're wearing an outfit, kind of, you know, wearing costume and, you know, so it's kind of theater in a weird way. But I remember just kind of wanting to do good for like, be like, make my parents proud or my grandparents proud or. There was kind of. I mean, it all happened so fast that I don't. I don't. I don't have problems with it or go back to it and go, that was traumatic. You know, I just think that I was always like a people pleaser.
- [05:22]
Stephen Bartlett
Your parents were very strict.
- [05:24]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah. Very Catholic. Very strict. No cursing, no sex. You know, very Catholic, you know, no dirty words? No. I would listen to comedy albums, you know, and my dad would take a key and scratch the curse words out of the record. He would find where the dirty word was and stop and then scratch it out of the record. So I wouldn't hear it. So I would hear Rodney Dangerfield and it would skip to the end of the joke and it was like, well, I'll tell you. And then cut to people clapping and laughing. I go, well, I didn't even know what the joke was. I mean, it kind of ruined it. I go, why were they laughing? But I didn't quite. But he would. My dad would tape music videos. You know, we'd have these shows in America, you know, called like USA Night Flight or Friday Night Videos. And he taped these music videos. He would watch them on Saturdays and go tape to tape of what videos we could see that wasn't offensive at all or sexually inappropriate or something too advanced for us or something.
- [06:25]
Stephen Bartlett
What was he like as a man?
- [06:26]
Jimmy Fallon
Funny. Life at the party. Hard working. Very Brooklyn, very New York. He sang in a doo wop group on the street corners. So he would go. Not professionally, but just. That was one of the things he did in high school. And then he also fought in gangs. Like not just beat each other up gangs. Like, I don't think anyone killed each other, but this was back in the 50s where they just would. One street corner would fight another street corner and they get together and just have a fist fight or something.
- [06:58]
Stephen Bartlett
Tough guy.
- [06:59]
Jimmy Fallon
He's a tough guy. Yeah.
- [07:00]
Stephen Bartlett
He's emotional.
- [07:02]
Jimmy Fallon
No, not emotional. I've never seen my dad cry or any of that stuff.
- [07:09]
Stephen Bartlett
Affectionate?
- [07:12]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah. I mean, I got I love yous and hugs and stuff like that. Yeah, I mean, not overly. Not the way I think I am. I'm hugging my kids every single day. And telling them how proud I am of them and saying, I love you. And they say, I love you back. And, you know, I'm overly, You know, where I didn't have that. You know, I think it was just. My mom was more that. And I think that was kind of put on my mom is you're the emotional. You know, you hug the kids and love them. And he was just more like, yep, I love you. You know, that's great. He was rooting for me always, you know, but, you know, a little harsh, but not. Not crazy harsh like we, you know. Yeah, nothing. Nothing that crazy.
- [08:03]
Stephen Bartlett
Gloria your mother?
- [08:04]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, Gloria's my mom. Yeah. Sadly passed away. Ms. My mom. My mom's name's Gloria. My sister name is Gloria. My dad's name's Jim, and I'm named Jim. Very unoriginal. Parents. Couldn't come up with any other name. Like, those are the perfect names for you. But, yeah, my mom was my. She rooted for me. That was my number one fan. I was the golden child in her head, you know, like, whatever I did, she was like, that's my kid. That's my. Oh, my God, you're fantastic. You gotta go. You're great. You know, she would always root me on whatever it is I did. She would laugh, you know, and I miss her not being around, you know. Cause I would talk to her every day, you know, sometimes multiple times a day, and, you know, talk about Siren live, and she'd watch the show and see sketches. That was funny. I mean, I would. She was part of my life, and I think part of what built my confidence.
- [09:06]
Stephen Bartlett
Even as an adult.
- [09:07]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, completely.
- [09:08]
Stephen Bartlett
You talked to her almost daily as an adult?
- [09:10]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, I would call her and just go, what's going on? You know, she loved to talk. That was her. She was great at that. She had one of those phones that had the phone cords that was so stretched out from walking all around the house and talking all day that the phone cord probably was two miles long. I mean, it was a pile of spaghetti on the floor. I'm like, it's so. I go, gosh, you should get a cordless phone. You won't even believe how your life changes. You can go anywhere, Mom. But she loved to walk around and talk. So she could talk all day long. But then she would call me and say, I saw you on tv. Or, you know, if she saw. I go, I know, Mom. I'm on that show. She was like, you're on Ellen Today. I know, Mom. Yeah, I was there. I was. That was me. I was on it, you know, but she was my number one fan and loved bits that I would do. And she was one of the most interesting people ever. And like, you know, both of them together are kind of cartoon characters, you know, and by the end, they both kind of couldn't really hear each other, you know, it was a lot of like, what? And my dad would go, huh? Yeah. I said, what huh? What huh? And they just say, what huh? Until I interrupt and go, stop. Just stop talking. Because let's just move on. You can't hear each other. This is insane. But I wish I could give you the best story of kind of what my mom was like. I mean, I remember going home to the house where I grew up in Socrates, New York, after I was on Sarantlive, or maybe even during. And I came home and Mom's like, let's go out to dinner. And I go, okay. I go, I don't really need to. I live in Manhattan. There's some of the best restaurants. I come home because I want home cooked, you know, meals, you know. But anyways. I go, sure. I go, but just don't make a big deal. Don't embarrass me. She's like, I'm not gonna embarrass you. I'm not. I go, okay, let's go. So we go out to this restaurant and we sit in and we sit down. And she goes, I'm kind of getting that draft. And I go, no, no, no. We're not moving. We're not making a big deal. Remember? That's the deal. We're just not making a scene. We're having dinner like you said. We're going to go, okay, fine. So we're sitting there and she goes, let's order. I go, you're great. And she goes, I'll have this. My dad's like, I'll have a steak. And I go. She goes, I'll have the lamb chops or something. I go, great. So we're waiting, and they come over with my dad and my meal, but they forget my mom's meal. They go, you know, we didn't put in the lamb. She's like, okay, so we can't really. So she goes, thank you. As they leave, she goes, I'm not gonna eat. I go, well, you can't do that. Cause you're gonna make a scene. You have to eat whatever. She goes, no, I'm just. I'm fine. I don't care. I go, please don't make a big deal. She goes, I'm not making be. Just, where's my thing? I ordered it. I'm like. I go, don't make a big deal. Finally, they bring over this lamb thing. After this whole thing, I go, great, just eat it. She's like, okay, so she's eating out of spite, and she takes the first bite, and she goes. And I go, oh. Oh, my God. She's not joking. And she's, like, pointing at her throat. And I go, oh, my God. So my dad sticks his finger down my mom's throat, and he's like. And she's, like, making these noises. And I go, oh, this is a nightmare. And then some woman runs over, and she goes, I'm a nurse. I'm a nurse. And knocking over tables and knocking everything over and grabs my mom and picks up my mom and gives her the Heimlich. And my mom is making a noise that I've never heard anyone ever. She was making. I've never heard my mom make this. She was going like. And then she pulled it, and then a lamb ball flew out of my mom's mouth and hit the wall. And the whole restaurant is just looking at us. And they sit down and she's crying, you know, and she's alive. And my dad goes, all right, let's just finish dinner. And I go, finish dinner. It's over. We're going home. We're buying a bottle of wine for that lady, and we're getting out of here. My dad was like, that lady should have minded her own business. I go, what? Maybe it was mom's time to go, you know? You know, but it was. They were that weird and funny where they're like odd people but always making jokes. But that was so. And it was embarrassing. But, you know, I remember telling that story, you know, and she. At a party, and she would love to hear it because that was just very her. And, you know, she. She just did stuff like that where just like, oh, this can't be real. A lot of that.
- [13:32]
Stephen Bartlett
Of both your parents, who are you trying to please the most, do you think? Who. Who are you waiting for the well done from the most God.
- [13:40]
Jimmy Fallon
And that's a great question. I would say probably my. My mom, I think she. She. I would like to make her laugh, you know, because she had a great laugh. They both did. But I think of both of them, I think my mom would be the one, because I was like. She was a fan of mine, so it's almost like going like, do you like my new song? Do you like the second record? If you're a fan of the Beatles, you know, do you like sergeant Pepper? You know? You know, and she would be like. Like it. I like this, you know, better. Cause I could tell that she was a fan of mine. So she's like, oh, I like this new thing you're doing. Or I like the song you did. You know, I think that was great because I could get feedback from someone I could tell was kind of studying what I was doing.
- [14:27]
Stephen Bartlett
For me, being a comedian and being comedic is so. So I say this with the most amount of respect. But it's so strange because it's such a big risk and it's such a unique career to pursue with very little promise of it, of financial return or any real notoriety. Like, when I spoke to Jimmy Carr and other comedians that I've interviewed, there's something a little bit.
- [14:58]
Jimmy Fallon
Say it. Crazy. Crazy. Mental. Yeah.
- [15:02]
Stephen Bartlett
Crazy about it.
- [15:03]
Jimmy Fallon
You know, I never. And I still, to this day, I don't care about money. I never cared about money. I never did anything for. I don't. I just don't do it. I never did it for money. And I always just. I worked because I liked working. You know, I liked. I worked since I was 13 because I enjoyed, I guess, getting a paycheck, but, you know, and paying for things. But I didn't know what things I was paying for. I was 13 years old. But, I mean, I liked the idea of going into work and working nine to five day and, you know, doing overtime. And I looked forward to working wherever it was. And, like, maybe it was because I was trying to be my dad. Cause he would go to work in the mornings and then I would see him at night, you know, when he came home. But I remember just not caring about money. And my mom. I would always put our laundry in the laundry basket or whatever, and my mom would do the laundry. Jimmy, I found $5 in your jeans. And I go, okay, yeah, yeah. She goes, thanks. She goes, next time, I'm gonna keep it. And I go do it. I could care less. What am I gonna do? I take. She's like, you know. And my dad's like, you gotta start caring about money. I go, I don't. I don't think I ever will. I just don't. It never was a thing for me. I never cared about, oh, I got the most or I got paid, blah, blah, blah. I just love the experience of it all.
- [16:24]
Stephen Bartlett
The experience of work.
- [16:27]
Jimmy Fallon
Any work or any work. It led to comedy as well as when I did comedy shows. You know, when you. When you Worked at the Improv in la, which is a great comedy club in Los Angeles on Melrose Avenue. You would go up and I think the paycheck was $7.25. That's what you get paid total. There's no way you could do that for the money because, I mean, it's worthless. What's $7 gonna do for you? But it was the getting on stage, the stage time that was priceless. And building an act and trying to get a Persona and build a brand and build a character and work in your act that could lead to a bigger act or a Saturday night gig. A Saturday night gig paid maybe $20 a gig. And that was kind of okay money. And they would also feed you on a Saturday. So which is great because I had no food. I was just living there going like, you know, I make got to $7. I can buy some things. But I. You didn't really eat much Saturday. They would feed you. And I remember my first Saturday gig at the Improv. I go in, it's a big deal and I'm brand new, probably out in la, maybe six months or something. And I worked my way. You have to do any weeknight, anytime they call, you have to be up there. And so I did that and I put my dues in for that and showed up and I did pretty well. I had a good 10 minute act and Saturday night gig. And I get there and I see Jerry Seinfeld in the restaurant. I go and I go out to the payphone and I call my parents, 1-800-Collect. Do you know what that is? Yeah.
- [18:06]
Stephen Bartlett
At least just about.
- [18:07]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, it's like a way to make a collect call so that you don't pay for it if you have no money. So you would call 100 collect and someone would have to pay for the. My parents would pay for the phone call from LA. And I called my mom, 1-800-collection. And she goes, what's. Hi, Jimmy. I go, mom, Jerry Seinfeld is at the club at the Improv tonight. She's like, oh my God, Jerry Seinfeld. Oh my God, I can't believe it. She's like, this is the peak of Seinfeld. She goes, is he gonna go? Do you stand up? And I go, I don't think so. I don't know. He's just eating at the restaurant. I know he's a fan of comedy. And the owner's name is Bud Friedman. And so he was there with Bud. So I go. So I go in and I'm getting ready to do my act, which is a lot of impressions. And I'm waiting there. And who goes on stage but Jerry Seinfeld? He just walks on stage. We have a surprise for you tonight. And he gets a standing ovation before he even says anything comes out. Does his greatest hits. I mean, crushing every joke. The famous ones. The sock missing from the dry, the whole bit. He did everything, then says, good night, standing ovation, and he leaves. And the guy goes, okay, who's on next, Mark? And this guy Mark, goes, I'm not following that. And he goes, how about you? And there's two other guys there, like Darryl or. He goes, I'm following that. He's like, who's Jimmy Fallon? And he goes, that's me. He goes, you're up next, kid. I go, oh, my gosh. My first Saturday night, I have to follow the greatest comedian of all. I mean, he was the hottest comedian. Might be one of the best comedians of all time now. I mean, he's the greatest. I had to follow. That was my first act. I'm like. And so I went up and I had this doll, and I would do these impressions about a troll doll and different impressions of celebrities. That would be the host of the.
- [19:56]
Stephen Bartlett
Like this one.
- [19:57]
Jimmy Fallon
Wow. You do your research. Unless you just carry that around like that one. So I would have this doll. Oh, my gosh. This is my act. This is so. I would have this. And I go, hello, I'm Jimmy Fallon, and welcome to the auditions for Troll Productions Incorporated. We're looking for a star or sponsor for our new line of troll. I would do, like, a British accent. I don't know why I thought that was cool for me at the time. Probably sounds terrible to you, and I don't mean to be offensive. We're looking for a star of celebrity to sponsor our new line of troll dolls for our new line of commercials. First up, John Travolta. Then I go, she's like, I swear to God. I mean, like, look at his hair. Like, who does this? Who does this hair? Like, it's so weird. Like, what kind of doll is this? Right? I mean, like, I can't even, like, play with this thing over here, you know? You know, Sandy, you know, do something like that. And. But this time, I came out and I go, first up for the celebrities, Seinfeld. And I go, okay, people. Okay, look at these dolls. They don't have their arms and legs.
- [20:58]
Stephen Bartlett
Don't move.
- [21:00]
Jimmy Fallon
These aren't fun. He's got no pants on. He's not even wearing pants. What Kind of a doll is this. And it worked. And I followed Jerry Seifa, and I was like. And that was cool. And then I went down the list and I finished my act and I pulled out a guitar and I played guitar with the troll doll. And that was my act for years. My name is Jimmy Fallon, and welcome to the auditions for Troll Productions Incorporated. Remember, these little guys are fuzzy hair. We're looking for, like, a jingle for our new line of troll doll commercials. First up, you two.
- [21:41]
Stephen Bartlett
Were you a confident young man? So if I zoom back to when you were 12 and you were the class clown in 1986, were you a confident man? What was going on in your head?
- [21:51]
Jimmy Fallon
I think I was pretty confident. I wasn't. I mean, I remember, like, my grandfather, my parents being like, hey, don't be too full of yourself. They didn't like kids that were too full of themselves or cocky. I was pretty, but I was confident.
- [22:05]
Stephen Bartlett
In your eighth grade class, you were voted by your peers most likely to replace David Letterman on the Late Night show. And you were 13 years old at the time.
- [22:15]
Jimmy Fallon
Is that crazy? Cause I ended up doing that.
- [22:17]
Stephen Bartlett
Crazy.
- [22:17]
Jimmy Fallon
I ended up doing that. I. I replaced David Letterman.
- [22:20]
Stephen Bartlett
But you were aiming at that.
- [22:22]
Jimmy Fallon
I wasn't.
- [22:22]
Stephen Bartlett
You were aiming at the SNL thing.
- [22:24]
Jimmy Fallon
Snl?
- [22:24]
Stephen Bartlett
Yeah.
- [22:25]
Jimmy Fallon
Saturday Night Live was my aim. I wanted to be a cast member on Saturday Night Live, which I ended up doing. But then Saturday Night Live is what got me Late Night, you know, which is Letterman's show. And then Late Night got me the Tonight Show.
- [22:41]
Stephen Bartlett
When you look back at how, at that age, you were aiming, you know, as a young man to be on snl, which is exceedingly rare, but you also went on to, you know, replace David Letterman on the. The Late Night Show. When you look back in hindsight and go, so if you're. If your child came to you and said, dad, how does one aim at a goal and then accomplish it? And how did you aim at such a goal? And in hindsight, what were the factors that went into you accomplishing that goal? Are there, like, principles that you could transfer to somebody to make them accomplish such a goal? Because, you know, one of your best friends, I think it was Frank Gentile, recalled that you are. He says, I've never met anybody more focused on what their goal was in life. It's. You know, I'm not a huge believer in manifestation as people often describe it, but it does feel like you pulled that into existence somehow.
- [23:35]
Jimmy Fallon
I remember just being. I don't know what it is. I wasn't that well read or anything like that, but I just knew that what I wanted to do, I think, from around 12 or 13, and maybe it's because people said I was good at it or I was making people laugh, you know. So I think when my peers and my friends said, like, you should do this, like, I think you're gonna be famous one day, or I think you're gonna be a comedian, you know, I think you start believing it and you go, like, oh, maybe I am good at this. Like, I don't even remember watching Late Night or David Letterman around that time. I knew Siren Live, and I probably did watch Letterman and Johnny Carson, the Tonight show, but I think I started thinking, oh, yeah, sirent Live will be. That's what I want to do. That'd be the ultimate dream, because that felt exciting and electric and show business, but also cool and edgy. And I was like, if that would be my goal, like, how would I do that? And I remember, like, secretly, if I threw a coin in a fountain or if I made a wish on a birthday cake, you know, which I still do, you know, that's not my wish anymore. But I remember I would blow out the candles and I'd say, I want to be on Saturday Night Live. Every year, all of my birthdays, any wish that I could make, that's what I wished, that I could be on Saturday Night Live. And so maybe that pressure that I put on myself drove me to figure it out and see what were the right steps. I think, you know, my big decision, you know, was going to stand up and doing impressions. I knew the show could always use impressions and people doing impersonations of celebrities, you know, and so I thought that was one way in. And so I remember doing that. And then I remember reading that people that study at the Groundlings, which is an improv troupe, if they study there, some people go from the groundlings to SirenLive. So I moved out to LA and started taking classes at the Groundlings just in case that could help me. I also knew that there was a management company named Brillstein Gray that managed a lot of the people that were on Sirent Live. And if I could get seen by Brillstein Gray, maybe they would put me in touch with, you know, the Adam Sandlers of the world or the, you know, people that, you know, they. They had everyone from, I think, Belushi on till, you know, they probably have people on the show now. But I remember getting a call from a manager who used to work at Burleson Gray just left. Her name was Randy Siegel, and she was great, and she was my manager. I moved out to LA with a manager, and so I thought she would know how to guide me to Saturday Night Live.
- [26:21]
Stephen Bartlett
What are your parents saying at this time? Cause if you're. If one's kid says, I'm gonna go out to LA to do comedy and improv and these kinds of things. Your dad was a career man. He was working at IBM, I believe.
- [26:33]
Jimmy Fallon
Yes, he was working at IBM. And he said to me. I said. He said, look, just guarantee me two years of college. Just go to college for at least two years. I think we made a deal where he said, if you go for four years, I'll pay for two years and you pay for two years. I go, okay. That was kind of a deal for us. And so I remember going to college for three and a half years, and on that half of that last semester, I got kind of an opportunity to go to LA to meet with this manager. And I said. I called my parents and I said, I think I'm gonna drop out and move and go to LA and go for it and just try to take acting lessons and take class at the Groundlings and try to get an audition for Saturday Night Live. And they were like, all right, well, really think about this. You know, this is really what you do. And who is this person that you're going out to? And I go, her name is Randy Siegel. She's a manager. And I had met her through a guy that I used to work for. And in Troy, New York, I was a receptionist at a news weekly called Metroland. I used to answer the phones, and I would also do the personal ads like, you know, men Seeking Women and blah, blah, blah. And I typed those things out. And I remember he moved to LA to be a music manager. And so I gave him my tape on his way out, a videotape of me doing my troll act. And I said, if you see anybody. He goes, well, I'm not doing comedy. I'm doing music. I go, I know, but if you see anybody, maybe pass it along. And so he passed it along to this manager. So she talked to my parents, and they got a phone call where she was like, I think Jimmy's got something. You know, he's green. But I think if he gets, you know, if he goes to work and puts in the work, I think that he'll get something. You know, I think he'll be successful. He's green, amateur, you know, he's not ready yet. If you. You know you're not ripe. He's green. So if you're green, you're like, you know, green banana. Yeah. You know.
- [28:41]
Stephen Bartlett
Did you ever give up on yourself or did you ever doubt yourself while you were out in la?
- [28:46]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, definitely a bunch of times. It's tough when you're just not getting the. It's not working. And you want to tell everyone that it is working, but it's hard. It's a lot of rejection and you end up like you're just trying so hard and you go, I know what I want, but it takes so much time to get there. But in the meantime, you have to take auditions. You have to. Cause I was like, I didn't want to take acting lessons because I read somewhere that James Dean would go to acting class and just watch and never do the acting lessons. And I liked James Dean for some reason. So I would go and I'd just sit in the back of the and watch everybody. And finally the acting teacher came up to me. He was like, are you sure you want to do this? Because I mean, you can get so much more out if you did this and started working with other actors. I think you should because you're a stand up comedian. You don't perform with anyone, you're by yourself on stage. I think you should learn how to act with other actors. And I was like, yeah, maybe he's right. Like, I'm not James Dean. So I started acting and then you realize, oh gosh, I'm really not good at this. I gotta learn how to do this. It's a skill to play off of other people and to listen to other people. So then I started doing auditions because that's. My manager would get me an audition for movies and stuff. And I think my first audition was to play a lifeguard in The Brady Bunch 2 movie or something. And I had to say like one line, like, get out of the pool, something like that. And so I remember going, and my line was printed on fax paper. They faxed it over when fax machines were a thing. And so I had. And they would tell you, bring in the paper when you do the audition. Hold the lines so that they don't think that you're off book so they think that you have a chance of getting better. I go, okay, great. So I'd hold the paper and I go. And action. And I go, get out of the, get out of the pool. Okay, you want to just do it one more time? I go, okay. It's quiet and it's just so awkward. And I go, get out of the pool, or whatever it was. And she goes, okay, bye, bye. And actually said, bye bye. And I was like, my face got red, I got so embarrassed. And I got back to my apartment and my manager called me and I go, did you hear feedback? She goes, yeah, you didn't get it. They said that. Weirdly, she goes, they said, you're too green. And I go, okay. She goes, but we have to work on it. You know, just keep doing it and keep doing auditions and working on these lines. And you should get an acting coach and go, bring the lines to the acting class and go, here's. Can you do. Get out of the pool? You know, whatever. Better. So it just got over and over again. You get rejected and you wouldn't get parts. I got no parts. I probably auditioned for, you know, 30 shows and movies and stuff like that. And you just kind of. It's tough. It's really tough. Say anyone going into the business or acting or any of that stuff, the entertainment stuff, you're gonna get beat up. It's gonna be to the point where you're like, I'm so depressed. I can't do it. But just know that if you can just get through it and keep working, eventually whatever it is that's gonna happen in life will work out. Maybe you won't even be an actor, but maybe you'll be a lighting director, maybe you'll work on sets. Maybe. Maybe it won't be acting, but it will get you to where you're supposed to be if you just keep going and keep doing. And I just kept kind of telling myself that. And, you know, I ran out of money and I was like, I'm going to have to go home to live with my parents and probably go back to college if I can, if they can let me back in. And I think I even might have looked into it. But I was just so bummed out because that's not what I wanted at all. I wanted to be on Sirent Live. And, you know, it's just reality was like, oh, it almost didn't feel like of living in this world because it's like people couldn't believe that. They're like, that's not reality. You can't just say, I'm gonna be on Siren Live. I remember going to my Groundlings class. My first teacher was great. His name is Jim Wise. And he goes, what do you want to do? And he would go around the horn and people like, I want to be in movies. I want to be in a TV show. I want to be in a sitcom. And I said, I want to be on Saturday Night Live. That's very specific. That's like, you know, it's one in a zillion. That's what I want. And he brought that up to me. He brings it up. Everybody's like, I'll never forget that you said that that's what you wanted to do. And that was my ultimate, ultimate. I said, if I do nothing else in life, that's all I wanted to do. And, like, even if that. If I got on for one season or one episode, then I could do whatever I could. I didn't care what I did after that. That was.
- [33:36]
Stephen Bartlett
What was the fixation with Saturday Night Live.
- [33:39]
Jimmy Fallon
I think my parents loved it and their friends loved it, but that was what they would watch, and that was like the pinnacle of comedy. That was the best comedy show in America, and so that was the best. So it's like playing for the greatest team, you know, playing for the Yankees or, you know, whatever. I don't know soccer, but Arsenal, I have no idea.
- [34:05]
Stephen Bartlett
Manchester United.
- [34:06]
Jimmy Fallon
Manchester United. You couldn't help yourself. Oh, my gosh. But, yes, playing for that. You're playing. You want to play. Play for the best. If you can make it there, that's the best team, then you could do whatever for that. If you play for Man U, it's.
- [34:21]
Stephen Bartlett
Slightly different with you because a lot of upcoming football players would be happy to play for any Premier League team. Man United is, you know, of course, great, but they would aim for any Premier League team. Whereas you seem to be, like, religiously intent on it being Saturday Night Live.
- [34:36]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, had to be that, because I think that's what we would watch.
- [34:39]
Stephen Bartlett
We would talk about as a family.
- [34:41]
Jimmy Fallon
As kind of a family. Yeah, as a family. They would. They would tape it. You know, we were one of the first families to have a vcr, which is anyone young listening to this podcast, a video cassette recorder. So it would tape. It's like a DVR digital video recording. So it's a video cassette, and you would tape it on these giant tapes, and they would record two hours, you know, on television. And so we would tape the show, and then you could re. Watch it. And then I would rewatch it and study it and watch the sketches over and over again and watch repeats and watch the greats and watch Belushi and Dan Aykroyd and people I want Bill Murray and Steve Martin. People I wanted to be like. As it got into high school, I was taping it, watching the Best sketches. And I would go to my friend's party and show the best sketch that week and go, oh, this is the best sketch. It's Chris Farley and it's blah, blah, blah. Or, you know, I would be obsessed that way. I almost became so obsessed in high school that I couldn't really hang out with anyone while I watched the show because I didn't like it if anyone didn't like the show. And my parents used to let me drink if I stayed in the. If I stayed home. So if I didn't go out, they would buy me a six pack of beer and I could drink at probably, you know, 16 or something or something like that, you know, not the smartest, but they would, you know, I would hang out with my friends and they would say, yeah, they're going to have a couple of beers and, you know, I would watch Siren Live with a six pack and watch it and study it. And I ended up just stop watching it with anyone else, you know, I guess I still drank. That's sad to say. I drank by myself, but I became an alcoholic at 16. But it was a thing that I would do and I would just study it. And I would. Every Saturday night and continuing into college, and my friends would have parties and they go, you gotta come, Ray. I go, I'll be there at one o' clock. They go, no, the parties, you gotta come. I go, Saturday live. I can't go. They go, just tape it. I go, I can't just tape it. I have to watch it live.
- [36:50]
Stephen Bartlett
Obsessed.
- [36:52]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, I was beyond obsessed. Obsessed, without a doubt. That was it. That was the pinnacle even. I went on like an NBC tour with my dad, like a bus trip to New York City and took me on a tour of NBC to see Siren live. And you know, this is. As I was older, I was just so nervous to go in the building and oh, my gosh, this is the building. This is what it looks like. This is the, you know, the doorway and the revolving door. I know all this and I know everything. I know what the walls look like, I know what the ceiling is painted like. I know art deco, decorate, you know, I knew everything. I geeked out and I was like, this is the best day, just going on tour there now. I've worked there for 20 something years. You know, it's my home. I've been working in that building since 1998. I don't even think about it anymore. That's the door. I go into work every now and then. I'll walk to you Know, I walk to work almost every day, but I'll get that feeling again, like, oh, yeah, don't lose that.
- [37:56]
Stephen Bartlett
This word obsession, it seems to be earlier when I said, you know, the principles of all the characteristics that got you to where you are today, but clearly obsession is one of them. I mean, you're obsessed to an extent that I didn't actually realize with becoming a host on Saturday Night Live. Yeah, an obsession is a powerful force, isn't it? Because it means that one can bang their head against an immovable object over and over again until the immovable object moves out its way. And that's kind of what you found yourself doing in la. You're sat that you're going to these auditions, you're getting rejected. What was your mental health like in that period when you were in la? Because you're dealing with constant rejection, you're running out of money, you're contending with having to go home.
- [38:38]
Jimmy Fallon
It wasn't the greatest, and I'm a pretty positive guy in general, but I think that was probably my lowest. Looking back. I mean, I remember like, you know, trying to see what therapy was or if I could afford a therapist or what that meant or why. Because I was just breaking down mentally of like, what, what, what have I, what have I done? Like, what have I done? I've kind of made these decisions and I wasn't getting anywhere. And it was like, I mean, I had really kind of no friends and no social life, just obsessed with work and obsessed with stand up and trying to make my act better and trying to see if I can get on Saturday Night Live and having no money and just going like, what is this all about? You know, I can't, I don't know if I can afford to keep failing. You know, I can't live in an apartment if you don't make money, you know, I can't, can't afford gas to get to the audition. You can't eat. It's like you just go, oh, yeah, I just got to keep doing gigs, but I'm running out of space. So maybe if I go home I can go back to doing like these little clubs and make some money, save up money and then go back out and try again in la. I remember they became a moment where I'm like, oof. I think I wrote a letter to my best friend, like, I'm losing it, dude. And in fact, I know I did because he still has the letter and he works for our show now and he says, I have it and I'll Publish it one day. I'll give it to people. If I need the money, I'll release your letter. You emotionally broken, I go, you know, but that's what best friends do. They hold it over your head. Yeah, exactly. They'll sell it on ebay. And I go, gosh, I mean, you know, it's one of those embarrassing things. I probably wish I didn't write that.
- [40:35]
Stephen Bartlett
But what did it say?
- [40:39]
Jimmy Fallon
I hope. I don't even ask. But I think it was something to the point. Like, I'm losing it and I don't know if I can make it. And I have. I don't know what else to do with my life and, you know, something to that or effect or, you know, I miss college. I miss my. I miss you. I miss having friends. I miss going out. I miss. You know, I think it was that it was like maybe regretting my decision to move to la.
- [41:09]
Stephen Bartlett
Was there anything that this Jimmy might go back to that Jimmy and say to him at that time, if you could, to some message that maybe he needed to hear that he wasn't hearing, maybe advice or.
- [41:21]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, I mean, of course the advice would be like, it's gonna be okay. You know, I think probably the best would to go back and be like, hey, I'm proud of you, dude. Like, you're doing exactly what you have to do. You're doing what you have to do to become me. So I'm so proud of you. So keep it up, you know? You know, I mean, I would. All the things that, like, I remember just in la and like, I remember like finding cardboard boxes that were thrown out in this garage next to me and bringing that in, not dirty or anything, but new boxes. And I would put sheets over and they would become tables. So I would use that as like kind of an end table next to my bed, stuff like that. And you go, oh, yeah, those are. It's creative, you know, it could. You could look at it. So sad to talk about it now and go, oh, my God, you're by yourself. You had cardboard boxes, there's tables. And you go, I didn't think about that. I was just trying to be. That would look nice if it had a sheet over it. And that looks kind of cool. It's very kind of dormy, you know, But I think about. I don't know why. It just made me think about it now. I'm just so. Maybe. I mean, having cardboard furniture was depressing, but, you know, you know, I think that's where you have to dig and see if you can make the. Find the funny in it and go, like, if you can perform now, then get ready when. If you're. If you get. If you step in the ring, you're an animal. Why?
- [42:54]
Stephen Bartlett
I'm proud of you.
- [42:58]
Jimmy Fallon
You didn't quit. You didn't. You're really, like, against all odds, you're doing something that no one in the family has done, that none of your friends have done. You really don't know where this is going to end. And you're kind of adventuring into an odd place. You're discovering all new stuff that's never been done. And it's great to do this, because one day you'll get tested in a different way and you'll be mentally stronger. And so I'm proud of you because this is all tough now, but it will pay off. When you need to show your strengths or it's almost like you're going to the gym. It will pay off one day. I don't want to do it. I. I don't wanna run. I don't wanna lift. I don't wanna do anything. I don't wanna eat. You go, I know, but the future of me is telling you, this is great that you're doing this. Cause you're going to have. It's just gonna be when you need it. You'll be strong enough. And so I think I was becoming stronger as I was building it. And I look back, and I wouldn't change anything at the time. You know, if anything, you know, I would say I want it to happen faster, but not really. I think you have to live through all the stuff and go, oh, yeah, No, I remember that. That was cringy. Oh, that was rough. Oh, I remember that. That was bad. But that was a good one. And then you go, oh, yeah, that was another great one. And then. Oh, yeah. And then you start thinking of all these stuff that you thought was depressing then. It's kind of charming now. And you go, kind of. I love those days. And I love the days where you bombed. And that was the biggest problem. The biggest problem in your life is that you didn't do a great impression of Jerry Seinfeld. Like, that was the biggest problem in your life. Okay, then I think your life is pretty good, dude. If you look back, you go, that was. It meant so much to me, though, you know? And I think about that now with my daughters. You know, they tell me stuff is going on in school and stuff. And to me, I'm like, you won't even see these kids this will mean nothing to you. These kids, maybe you'll be friends with them for life. I hope that'd be great, but I don't think so. I don't remember anyone. I don't talk to anyone from my grade school. But it's the biggest thing in their life now. So you can say that because it's like, dad, this is my life. What are you talking about? This is the biggest thing. Like, high school is so slow. When you're in high school right now, four years is a joke. Four years is like a joke to me. I go, oh, my God, I could do anything for four years. When you're in it, it's long. Four years feels like 25 years, you know?
- [45:39]
Stephen Bartlett
Could you have imagined a reality where you didn't end up getting onto SNL at some point? So if we were sat here now you're 50 years old and you're sat here and you'd never done it.
- [45:49]
Jimmy Fallon
I would have done it, but.
- [45:51]
Stephen Bartlett
So this is what I'm getting at.
- [45:52]
Jimmy Fallon
Is I would have found a way and done it and even just walked on or something. I would have found a way to get on it. I would have found some way to either be an extra or walk in the background or do something, or I would have. There's no way. There's no way. I have to. But you're saying if I didn't, what would happen? Or you're saying, I don't think it would ever happen. I had to be on it. I was gonna make it happen and I had to do it. You know, I don't think there was an option. I don't think there. I would have done it. I don't think there's ever an option. I would never have been on that show.
- [46:33]
Stephen Bartlett
I asked the question because there are areas of my life where I sometimes reflect and go, I always thought that that was going to happen. And the consideration that that might not have happened makes. It's almost like this. Like then life wouldn't have been real. Like then everything I believed would have been a lie. There's small things in my life that when you look at me as a young man and I'm filming myself pretending that a TV show have asked me to do something that ended up happening 10 years ago. And I go, that was always how in my brain.
- [47:03]
Jimmy Fallon
I did that too. Yeah, but I mean, I think a lot of us performers have done this where you interview yourself and you pretend you're on a radio show and you go, like, here I am. I'm counting down the top 10 songs, and here's the VO. And I have cassettes of me doing that. You know, I think a lot of people do that.
- [47:21]
Stephen Bartlett
When I asked you the question about snl, you were so convinced that that's always the way that it was going to go. And I'm like, that's what I'm trying to. I wanted to see your reaction when I make you consider that it didn't go that way.
- [47:33]
Jimmy Fallon
I can't see it not happening. I had to. It was going to happen. I don't know. I don't know if I can tell you honestly that I could imagine another path. I don't even know if I could fake it. Cause I would be lying. I know I would be on Saturday. I have to. I just. That was. I can't even. I can't lie and say, well, I guess I could have done. I just know.
- [48:02]
Stephen Bartlett
So how did you go from that kid who's writing the letter to his friend saying that he's considering giving up and seeking out therapy and those kinds of things? How did you get from that moment to that first Saturday Night Live audition?
- [48:16]
Jimmy Fallon
I think you get little things. Little good things happen to you.
- [48:22]
Stephen Bartlett
You were gonna use the word luck, right? It sounded like you paused on the.
- [48:26]
Jimmy Fallon
Word luck there, but I could use luck, But I'm just gonna say good things. I mean, it probably is luck. I feel like I'm a lucky person, but I think they're just like. Like you. I. I think I got a holding deal at Warner Brothers Television to do, like, to act for a sitcom or something, even though I didn't want a sitcom. I remember putting in the contract that if I get Sirent Live while I'm doing the sitcom, that I can contractually get out. And they said, no, that's the whole reason. No one can. You can't. I go, well, that's the only reason I have to get this clause in my contract. And they said, no one's ever asked for that, but, okay. So they put it in my contract. So if I was on this show, the show didn't get picked up. But if the show got picked up and I got a chance to audition for Saturday Night Live, I could leave the show contractually, because they were like, it's just, no, it's not gonna happen. But so I ended up acting and getting a little money, which is great, because it actually. I could stay at my apartment and actually still work on my goal of Siren Live, you know, while not doing. I didn't want to act in Sitcoms. But that helped me take a breath and go like, okay, I got a couple more months of opportunity and eventually.
- [49:55]
Stephen Bartlett
You get a phone call.
- [49:57]
Jimmy Fallon
Yes. My manager sent tapes and tapes and tapes to Siren Live saying, can, you know, this is. He really wants it, blah, blah, blah. And so I got an audition for Siren Live. This is my first of two auditions. My first one, I went to do stand up my troll bit on stage at the Comic Strip here in New York. And I remember going in and having my one outfit that I owned that I thought was the best and you know, some shirt from the Gap or something and Nike sneakers that like, it was such a big deal. I only wore them on special occasions and this was it. And I went on stage with my troll doll and I saw Loren was in the audience. He had his hat on.
- [50:44]
Stephen Bartlett
He's the founder creator.
- [50:46]
Jimmy Fallon
Yes, he's the creator of Saturday and Now the Late Night and the Tonight Show. And I remember going on stage and as soon as I did my first impression, I knew it just didn't work. I didn't have the audience. It was cut down from a 10 minute act to I think three minutes. And I had to catch the audience, hook them in three minutes and leave. And I started the first 20 seconds. I could tell this is bad and it was sweaty. It was a bad audition. And I left and I go, oof. We went to a diner next door to the club with my manager and had coffee. It was very depressing. Like, wow. That was my. That was it. That was my audition for Saturday Night Live. Lorne Michaels, who's the creator of the show, was there. That was my big opportunity and I blew it. All right, let me figure. It'll be fine. Let's figure it out. Went back to la. They said you didn't get it.
- [51:43]
Stephen Bartlett
How did that feel?
- [51:45]
Jimmy Fallon
For some reason at that point, I don't remember, I was a bit numb, I think then. And I think I was on. I was starting to work on my act and really getting into stand up. And I just kind of kept thinking in my head, I have to get another shot, another chance at auditioning or showing them what I could really do, because that was just not the best that I could do. But it wasn't too long after that where I got another phone call from Sarah Lang.
- [52:25]
Stephen Bartlett
How old were you when you got that second call?
- [52:28]
Jimmy Fallon
23.
- [52:30]
Stephen Bartlett
So I heard you'd said that if you didn't make it on SNL before the age of 25, you were gonna.
- [52:37]
Jimmy Fallon
I was gonna kill myself. Were you actually Yeah, I wrote that in something in some journal or something.
- [52:45]
Stephen Bartlett
You wrote what?
- [52:46]
Jimmy Fallon
If I don't get on Sirent Live by the age of 25, then I'll. I'll kill myself.
- [52:52]
Stephen Bartlett
Did you mean that?
- [52:55]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, I did. But again, I knew that I was gonna be on Siren Live, so I guess I didn't really mean it. Cause I was gonna be on Saturday night before I was 25.
- [53:08]
Stephen Bartlett
So crazy.
- [53:10]
Jimmy Fallon
I just, I knew that I was going to be honest, so it wasn't really a threat.
- [53:15]
Stephen Bartlett
So funny. Do you know what's funny is the. Actually, it's in my book behind there, there's a screenshot of my diary. And in the front page of my diary it Sundays, before I'm 25. And it has my goal written in the front of my diary. And I've published it in my book, which is on the shelf somewhere. Isn't that funny that I had the same thing where I'm like, before I'm 25 years old, I will have to do this.
- [53:37]
Jimmy Fallon
Yes.
- [53:38]
Stephen Bartlett
Yeah. And it's. And it happened, thankfully.
- [53:41]
Jimmy Fallon
But did you think in your. When you were typing, I didn't say.
- [53:44]
Stephen Bartlett
I was going to kill myself, but yeah, I don't.
- [53:47]
Jimmy Fallon
I think I typed it out. But again, I was into computer, so I think I typed it. I think it's on some file somewhere.
- [53:53]
Stephen Bartlett
Okay.
- [53:53]
Jimmy Fallon
I think I said it will kill myself. But I definitely said, you know, yeah, 25 was my thing.
- [54:02]
Stephen Bartlett
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- [55:03]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah. So I then I said, do you want me to do the troll Doll. And they go, no, we'd rather you not do the troll dolls, because we've seen that already. Okay.
- [55:12]
Stephen Bartlett
Was that the end of the troll doll?
- [55:14]
Jimmy Fallon
Well, that was my whole act. I don't have any. I don't have much more. That was. That's all I did was the troll doll act. So I'm like, what do I do? So I just kind of did the troll doll act under a guise of a different thing where it's like celebrity charity or, you know. So, you know, I think it was a. How you doing? Here we go. Oh, my God. You know, my mom always told me to get some out of height to get some exercise. And so she used to say all the time, she say, why don't you go to the store with your mother, skinny kid? And I would say. I'd say, why don't you shut up? That was the big. That was my big moment. That was the biggest moment for me. That's crazy. That was the moment in the audition, too. That changed everything. Cause I was doing a bunch of impressions, and before I did that, I'm so nervous. But now I'm on the actual stage, and you're there, and the producer comes over, says, jimmy Fallon. They go, yeah, come with us. They go. Just to let you know, Lorne Michaels doesn't laugh. So don't let that throw you if you're doing your act. They go, great, thank you. And then they go, now go get hair and makeup. I go, wow, how cool. Hair and makeup. I go, get hair and makeup. They're doing my hair. They're putting makeup on me. Because they're broadcasting my audition to California so that the heads of NBC can see. And the guy and girl doing my makeup, hair and makeup go. Just so you know, Lauren doesn't really laugh in these auditions, so don't let that throw you. When I go, okay, yeah, that's what I heard. Great. Thank you. I go, get your microphone on. So they're putting a microphone on me and a mic pack, and I'm like, in the audio, he goes, just a little advice. Lorne doesn't really laugh. So if you do your thing, I go, what is this guy's problem? Why is he not laughing? He's in the wrong business. I mean, he's in a comedy show. And so as I was doing that audition, I did an impression of Adam Sandler, which was what you just played. And I remember at the time, it was kind of new because Adam just left Siren Live, and no one was really doing Adam Sandler. And I was doing, you know, like, A.J. who did. Who did it? A.J. who did it? You, whatever. And I remember Lauren started laughing and I go, that's cool. That's a cool story, even if I don't get Sirent live. But I just knew that he started laughing. He put his head in his hand and he's laughing. And I go, that's a good story. I'll tell my kids. I made Lorne Michaels laugh on Saturday Night Live. On the set of Saturday Live. I wasn't really on the show, but I was on the set. And I remember doing that and feeling good about the audition. Like, I left that going, that went as good as it could go, you know, that was the best I can. That's the best I can give him. That was it. And I remember one of the producers, Marcy Klein, came up to me and said, grabbed my hand. She goes, jimmy, that was fantastic. You got to feel good. And I was like. And I just felt like, okay, if they're saying it. And I go, I feel good. Then you didn't hear. I didn't hear back for a couple weeks or whatever. It's like, it's crazy how long you wait because you. And they go, look, we like Jimmy. We saw him at the comedy club. We were looking for a different direction. And, you know, for that audition, I think they hired Tracy Morgan. So they were going in a different direction the first audition, but this one they called, they go, loren wants to meet you and talk to you. He's going to be out in la, and he had an office on the Paramount lot. And so I drove into the Paramount lot to get my name to the front gate. It's a great. It's a great studio. It feels like you're in the business. I don't know if you've ever been to the Paramount lot, but the giant gates, and it's a movie set and the gates open and you go to a parking spot and there's actors walking around. It just feels like you're in the business and it's nerve wracking. And I went into Lauren's office. He had like a, you know, some office on the. On the lot. And I remember going into his office and everything was white and it kind of felt heavenly almost. And you're just like. And I sat across the desk from him and he goes, jimmy, do you wear wigs? And I was like, oh, no, I just got. I do this to my hair. I just spike it up. He's like, no, no, I'm saying, like, for Characters and stuff. Like, do you. Have you done characters where you wear wigs and stuff? I go, no. He goes, because we want you for the show. And I just think, you know, with more practice and if you try to do different. And as soon as he. Whatever he was saying, I couldn't hear. The rest was slow motion. I was like, oh, my gosh. He just said, I got Saturday Night Live. I did it. I got Saturday Night Live. It's happening. I couldn't believe it. And I go, okay. And I shook his hand. I go, I hope I make you proud. And I left, and I think I pulled over to the first payphone I could get to and called my mom. And I'm like, I just got serialized and it was like, wah. You know. You know. You know, it was just. It was crazy. The whole thing's crazy. I'm coming back to New York because I'm going to be on the show that I tried to be on my whole life. I did it. It's happening. And here we go. And it was like, wow. And I said goodbye to LA and my roommates, and everyone's just so happy for me. And. And then I went to New York and got an apartment in midtown, and it was the greatest thing. And I took Siren Live and went from there and did a couple movies. I met my wife. It's the best thing that ever happened to me. And then I didn't work for a while after the movies, and then Lauren asked me to be on to host Late Night and replace Conan o' Brien. I did. I worked hard at that. And then I got asked to replace Jay Leno on the Tonight show, and I did that. And here I am now I'm host of the Tonight show and crazy life and crazy opportunities, and it's just so interesting and fun.
- [61:24]
Stephen Bartlett
There was emotion in your face where you talked about getting SNL and calling your mum. It's so interesting that it's decades ago.
- [61:34]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah. You know, again, like, it's the end of Rocky. You know, it's the thing. It's like, I did it. It's like, yes, you did it. That's insane. You gotta be kidding me. You did it. What we all said you were going to do, but you went and actually, this is. It's crazy. Not many people do this. And I was like, yeah. And to talk to your mom, who's your biggest fan and always believed in you, you know, that's emotional. And it's like. It's just. This is. How can this be? It's just. I Don't know. It was just done. It's just the whole thing's kind of crazy. It's amazing.
- [62:31]
Stephen Bartlett
Is there anti climax?
- [62:33]
Jimmy Fallon
No.
- [62:34]
Stephen Bartlett
Because if you aim at that one goal and put it on a pedestal for that long in your life.
- [62:38]
Jimmy Fallon
No, it paid off. It was. Everything was what I dreamt. It was crazy. Everything. The announcer, Jimmy Fallon, him saying my name. I was, like, dreamt of it. He was really saying it. I could watch him. I enjoyed every second of it, every bit. The Internet was happening at the time. And then people started getting. Sending me fan letters and then web pages, and it was just like, you started getting famous. And here's the New York City street I walked on not too long ago, being kind of afraid and intimidated. Now I'm walking and people are going, jimmy, you know, and. And it's. And it's cool. And you go, yeah.
- [63:19]
Stephen Bartlett
What? Weren't you prepared for.
- [63:22]
Jimmy Fallon
Getting rejection, you know, getting your sketches cut, being told you're not funny, you know, haters. This is before Twitter and all that stuff, which is a different ball game that I wasn't ready for either. But you think that it's just gonna be, oh, this is cool, Everyone be great. But then just people. Not everyone's rooting for you. Some people want you to fail. People's jobs are to take me down, you know, and to put bad press out and stuff.
- [63:53]
Stephen Bartlett
It's just.
- [63:53]
Jimmy Fallon
That's their job and that's. And you just like, oof. I didn't think it was. I don't live in that world. I don't believe that it's real, but it kind of is real. And you go, oh, people are just going to be mean. And you got. Again, just toughen up and get through it and just keep your head down and keep being funny and just keep doing things and keep. Keep being creative. And just. If you move that out, you realize it's not even real. It's real, but it's noise. And it's just. It doesn't affect you. You can only believe in yourself and know that you have to keep going. And if you keep scoring, that will show your work, will show that stuff I wasn't prepared for, of dealing with the. Overcoming that, you know, overcoming that. Yeah, overcoming, like hating on you or, you know, saying you're not good or something. It's like, you don't think that's going to happen, but it, you know, it will if you're successful, because someone will be like, you know, someone's not gonna like you no matter what.
- [65:03]
Stephen Bartlett
As someone that's always trying to please. Is that the antithesis of pleasing for one's brain who is orientated towards making people happy?
- [65:11]
Jimmy Fallon
It's the worst. Yes, it is the absolute worst. I hate it. I want everyone to like me. I can't stand it. I go, oh, my gosh, what can I do to make you like me? I think the answer is, you can't. You can't make everyone like you. You just have to do what you do and do the best that you can at what you do and be happy with yourself.
- [65:40]
Stephen Bartlett
I mean, look, what's the. What's the alternative? The alternative is you. You quit. You.
- [65:45]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, you quit, or you, you. You change you to be. I guess what the person who hates.
- [65:51]
Stephen Bartlett
You likes someone else will just hate that.
- [65:55]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah. The original people will hate that. That you changed and you go, oh, yeah. I mean.
- [66:00]
Stephen Bartlett
And then you'll hate yourself.
- [66:02]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah. I mean, there's. I love music, but I remember, like, I loved the Beastie Boys growing up. And there's that one line. Mike D says, like, be true to yourself and you will never fall. And it's like, kind of is the move. Just be. That's. Be true to yourself. Then there's no. Everyone can say whatever they want. It's like, that's who I am.
- [66:25]
Stephen Bartlett
How did you cope with that? Stardom being thrust into public spotlight. You're getting feedback from everywhere. You're getting the good, the bad, the ugly. You're someone that wants to please. Did you seek any professional help? Did you get any support?
- [66:39]
Jimmy Fallon
No, no, I just kind of live through it and go like, yeah, I think I'll. I'll figure it out. You know, I think fame was fun. You know, it's. It's cooler. It's cooler than cool. It's like, wow, this is what I thought it would be. But it's also, at the end of the day, it's. It's the work and the stuff that you do and the stuff that comes out of it where I'm most proud of, where I'm like, oh, I get to do this. I think this bit could be fun, you know? Like, I remember we had Mick Jagger on the show, and Lauren said, mick will do a sketch if anyone has an idea. And I go, I could do an idea where I'm the reflection of Mick Jagger in the mirror. And I'm like, you know what? Doing a shadow that way. And Lauren goes, please don't do that. Absolutely. Please, please don't do that. He goes, it's been done. Marx Brothers have Done it. It's just Lucille Ball. It's been done. Please don't do that. I go, okay. He goes, but go pitch, make ideas. I go, I. I don't wanna pitch him ideas. You're the producer. I'm nervous. I don't wanna. I don't even know Mick Jagger. He's like, just go in and pitch him the ideas. So I wrote out, like, 10 ideas. I'm like, hi, Mick. He's like, he's very nice. And I go, you know, I was thinking maybe me and you, I play. You play Keith, and I'm you. And, you know, we work at a, you know, Sunglass Hut or something like that. And he's like, yeah, no, don't really like that. I don't like that. And I go, well, then I have this other idea, you know, where, you know, you and I work in an ice cream shop, but we're, you know, blah, blah. And he's like, nah, nah, I don't really lock down. I don't. I don't want to do that. And I go, all right. And I'm going down the list, and the ideas are getting worse and worse, and I'm just like, oh, my gosh. And then out of desperation, I go, or we could do something where you come in your dressing room and I'm your reflection in the mirror. And you're like, why am I doing this shot? I've done it in the 70s and done it in the 80s, and what am I going to do that? What am I doing? And he goes like, I'm. Oh, I like that. I go. So I go back to Lauren's office. I go, good news, bad news. Good news. Nick wants to do a sketch. Bad news is it's the mirror sketch. So Lauren was like, okay, we'll do it. And we wrote it in a night which has never been done, I don't think. When I was on the show, we wrote it on a Thursday night, rehearsed it once on Friday, and did the show on Saturday. And it worked. And it really worked. It might be one of the best sketches I was ever in. And Mick was so happy that he was so giddy, and he kind of shook my hand through the mirror, which is funny, because I'm supposed to be his reflection. And it was just kind of cool. And I remember one of those things where I'm like, the room was shaking, and I go, that's cool, dude. That's beyond what I dreamt I could do. You know, being on Saturday Night Live is one dream, but now you. You're doing it sketch with one of your rock idols, you know, and scoring, and it's great. It's really funny. And everyone's having a good time, like you really like, but that's something. And it was. Wasn't meant to be. It wasn't written. It was all just kind of happened last minute and, you know, but those little moments all kind of add up and you go, oh, my gosh, this is so crazy that this is all happening.
- [69:55]
Stephen Bartlett
How was that? I was looking before you arrived at all the people you've interviewed going back more than a decade, and it's just everybody. It's like Floyd Mayweather to you insert the name of the person who's at the top of an industry. You've sat with them, they've been on your show. I was thinking, like, how has that altered your perception of not just what fame is, but what life is about? Because you've met the best of the best, the top of the top, the richest of the rich, the most famous of the famous.
- [70:23]
Jimmy Fallon
I'm interested, you know, in people, whoever it may be, whether it's Bruce Springsteen or, you know, Andrew Lena Jolie or something. You. You're talking to them, just going, talk to me about this thing or what? I don't know. It's like, also with my show, I gotta jump right in. I have probably, yeah, 10 minutes interview, you know, which is, you gotta get in there fast. And you go like, I gotta make them comfortable and know that I'm not gonna make them look bad. I just wanna talk to them and go like, hey, blah, blah, blah, or I'll make a thing, or I'll just say some joke or I don't know what I'll do. And they're like, really? And then they'll be themselves. And then you go, now it's flowing. And you go, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then you can get into the movie talk and, you know. You know, and sell the product or whatever, you know, which is whatever. But it's that first kind of five to seven minutes where you get in there and then you start playing with them and you start like, you can get a laugh out of Floyd Mayweather or something. It's cool.
- [71:26]
Stephen Bartlett
How do you make them feel comfortable? Is this. You must have something that you have learned about what it is that makes someone feel comfortable.
- [71:34]
Jimmy Fallon
I don't know. I don't have an exact recipe. I will tell you that I go in before the show, to their dressroom. Say hello before the show.
- [71:41]
Stephen Bartlett
Okay.
- [71:42]
Jimmy Fallon
Just to say, hi, how's it going then? I'll just talk to them. Sometimes I talk to them longer than the interview because we'll get talking about something or life or some bit or, you know, their parents or something. You know, just get into real life talk. And by the time they come out, they feel like we've already talked. So it's less pressure, I think. Also, after 16 years of talking to. I've seen everyone at their highest. I've seen everyone at their lowest. I've seen people date people they shouldn't date. I've seen people get married and have babies and just really fun to watch, and it's fun to go back. And now, even if I see these people once a year, twice a year, I feel like I know them a little bit. And you're like, oh, yeah, Floyd, good to see you. What's up? Or Mick, you know, how's it going? How's, you know, how's your kids? You know, we can just talk and we're caught up, and you're like, oh, yeah. And it kind of feels like maybe it doesn't to them, but to me, it feels like I just saw them yesterday and that we're, you know, even though it's probably. I haven't seen them in a year, it feels like I just saw you. You go, oh, yeah.
- [72:50]
Stephen Bartlett
How do you stop it from getting old? And I say this because I am, obviously. I've been doing this podcast now, really, for about four years. That's really. I consider the starting point when we started on YouTube. And I wonder what I've got to do to make sure that I never get bored of doing this.
- [73:07]
Jimmy Fallon
I don't think you ever will. There's just so many interesting people. Yeah, there's so many people in this world, and it's. It doesn't end. I mean, four years. I'm trying to think of where that was. That was round at the end of Late Night for me. I mean, you're just. You're doing all the things. You're. You're just expanding. I mean, but you're working hard. I mean, you're. You're trying to. I think, just keep trying. If you stop trying, you get boring tomorrow. But here you are in New York with 10 cameras. I mean, you're not in London. You're not in your kitchen. This is fake.
- [73:40]
Stephen Bartlett
Don't break the illusion.
- [73:41]
Jimmy Fallon
This is fake. This wall's not real. This is not. There's a light here. This is all fake. This is all a fake thing. This is how. This is how you don't make it old. You don't. You have to work. And this is all. Nothing here is real. This is all a studio. But that's how you make it not get old. Yes, but this is. I think how you make it exciting is you got to put the work in. Don't get tired. You got to show up, and you always got to show up. You got to be there, and you got to be there for your audience. And you do that. You show up, you do all the stuff. I mean, you have to. And that's, like you said, it's kind of a seven days a week thing. But it's every day you go, what can I do? What can I do? What can I do? It just becomes part of your life. It's brushing your teeth. It's like, oh, yeah, I guess brushing your teeth. Someone at one point told me to have to do that, you know? But now I do it every day, so I don't think about it. I brush them three times, four times a day.
- [74:41]
Stephen Bartlett
Now I'm like, how do you keep yourself challenged? Is there something that you're doing to push yourself? Because, you know, we expand around the world. We go to different places, we have increasingly more interesting, different guests, and challenge ourselves in that way. But you. When I looked at your show, I was like, he started with the biggest in the world.
- [74:59]
Jimmy Fallon
I know.
- [74:59]
Stephen Bartlett
And he started in the biggest city in the world.
- [75:01]
Jimmy Fallon
Start putting more pressure on yourself for any little challenges or trying something. And you go like, I've always wanted to put out a Christmas album, you know, and just come out with and write original songs. You know, trying to write songs is hard enough. Trying to write 20 original Christmas songs, it's insane. And what's. What's. What hasn't been said. I have an idea for a kid's book that I think could be funny, you know? Yeah, Dada was the first one that was a big deal. It's really the same word on every page. It's just getting your kid to say dada. So I thought that no one's done this. I go, basically, if you get to the end of the book, it's you saying the word dada so many times that I think your baby has to eventually just go dada. So it'll work.
- [75:46]
Stephen Bartlett
But then you released Mama.
- [75:47]
Jimmy Fallon
I had to, because my wife and all my female fans were like, really? You have two daughters and you're not going to write Mama? Because this is the real truth. Everything is Mama. So that's kind of the same book, except I changed it to. You want the kids to say dada and they just keep saying mama.
- [76:07]
Stephen Bartlett
I have a found some wonderful photos of your childhood which I adored. My God, these photos. You probably recognize quite a few of them.
- [76:16]
Jimmy Fallon
Did I post these? Where would you find these?
- [76:17]
Stephen Bartlett
I went through your house.
- [76:19]
Jimmy Fallon
Oh my God. This is my Catholic teacher, kindergarten teacher. That's Mrs. Fulling. That's Frank Gentile we talked about earlier. My friend Steve T bout. These are my dorm room friends. I would do stand up with Frank and Steve was kind of the artist in the group.
- [76:38]
Stephen Bartlett
Is that Gloria underneath? This is. Yeah, Gloria.
- [76:43]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah. That's my mom. That's my mom. In our kitchen where we spent many a time, we partied many times in that kitchen.
- [76:53]
Stephen Bartlett
In November 2017, when she passed away, you said as a tribute on the Tonight show, which I watched, the best audience, referring to your mother, that she was the best audience. She was the one I was always trying to make laughter. Mum, I'll never stop trying to make you laugh. And I heard you talk about squeezing her hand three times when you were younger and her squeezing yours back in a fraction of like, public attention I've experienced. One of the things that acts as an insulator to all of that for me is knowing that I have a home to return to. And home for me isn't a place. It's people, you know?
- [77:29]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah.
- [77:29]
Stephen Bartlett
And that's the thing that makes all of the noise feel fake and like it's not real and that there is something real. And so when I was thinking about all of that and you losing her and her being the audience, her being home for you, I. I have to understand, like, how that changed you.
- [77:51]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, it's.
- [77:52]
Stephen Bartlett
It's.
- [77:53]
Jimmy Fallon
It was. It's the toughest thing that I had to go through. I think see it, you know, that it's going to come eventually. But it's just. It was just so sad because just choose so much joy in my life. I just miss her, you know, but you don't stop thinking about the people, you know, and you think about all these things and you look at all these other photos and you go, yeah, that was probably. She probably gave me the microphone. My mom was probably here giving me the microphone. And when you think about people dying, especially when it happens for the first week, you go, I'm gonna forget about them and I can't. And you go, it's so sad. And then the truth is, it's just you don't. You don't forget about them ever. They will never. They're in your Life. You think about them in the weirdest moments. And you'll hear a song, and I'll hear, like, Duran Duran or something. I don't even know if my mom liked Duran Duran. But something reminded me of me. And my mom was, you know, think of my mom like, oh, my God, I can't believe I'm listening to Hungry like the Wolf or whatever, Rio. And I'm thinking about my mom and getting sad. But you do. You have those moments when it's like. But. But it's. It's more happier moments, and you don't get that emotional. You know, if I, you know, want to, I can just start crying because I just miss her. But I think of the best times and, you know, I think I wouldn't be who I am without her.
- [79:30]
Stephen Bartlett
You know, when you say that you miss her, you've said that a few times. What precisely is it that you miss?
- [79:38]
Jimmy Fallon
She had a great sense of humor, and she was always, you know. And I think there's so many things talking about. Probably talking about myself a lot going, did you see the thing I did? Or the thing or. I want her to bring it up. Like, that thing you did was great. And then it makes you feel good. So I kind of miss the positive reinforcement, the feedback. Positive feedback of something that I did that I kind of miss. And her complaining about something or talking about something she doesn't like, or I feel like that would kind of give me material. And I miss, like, you know, calling on my birthdays. And, you know, she so much love. She just loved me so much.
- [80:23]
Stephen Bartlett
I do worry about. I worry about this because I think sometimes we don't realize the importance of certain relationships until we lose them. And my parents are getting older, and I think I have some kind of, like, subconscious existential fear that there will be words unsaid or I will learn the hard way that there's things I should have said, you know?
- [80:43]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah. Yeah. You kind of. Yeah, I think I said everything. I think I said everything.
- [80:48]
Stephen Bartlett
It sounds like you spoke to her a lot.
- [80:50]
Jimmy Fallon
I did. I said everything. She knew that I loved her. And, you know, it just. It kind of happened fast, which I kind of hope. I think that was a good thing. I hope it doesn't happen slow for you. Cause I don't know if I could take that. This happened really quickly.
- [81:07]
Stephen Bartlett
And so I was like, are you able to grieve? Were you able to grieve?
- [81:12]
Jimmy Fallon
Yes. I went for it. My wife was really helpful with that. She was like, go for it. Just cry. And Just grieve. Because eventually you actually just have to stop crying. There's no way you can keep crying. There's no way. But you feel like there's a hole in your heart and the hole in your lungs. You feel it unhealthy, and you feel like you have to go to the hospital, that you're going to die. You know, you just have to go through that and you go. And then you just get it out of your system. And then, you know, as time goes on, you just start being able to laugh at the things. Kind of happy memories, you know, and sad she's not here anymore, but glad for what she gave me. And when all the memories, I mean, way outweighs the. The sad thing, I just wish it was around is the only thing. And if you harp on that, then it's too depressing.
- [82:05]
Stephen Bartlett
Did it change your perspective on your own work? Because it's funny, I remember thinking about my old business when it was like it was my entire life. I was thinking, if I lost this person in my life now, I don't know if my business would mean the same to me. Because in part, I'm doing this for them.
- [82:22]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah. Yes. You still do it for them. In a weird way, I still do this for my mom. I think of her when I do things. I go, she would be. She would be psyched. She would be proud. She would. That would make her laugh. I still think of her for most things I do. She would love that. That would make her laugh. That would make her proud. She'd be like, oh, that's funny. Or that's. That's good that you did that.
- [82:52]
Stephen Bartlett
Her loss. You turning 50.
- [82:54]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah.
- [82:56]
Stephen Bartlett
Putting all these pieces together, it seems like this might have inspired your increased concern and, I guess, drive for longevity and health. Cause we talked just before we started recording, and I asked you what's sort of front of mind for you at the moment, and one of the things you mentioned was longevity and health.
- [83:13]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah.
- [83:14]
Stephen Bartlett
When did that emerge?
- [83:17]
Jimmy Fallon
Maybe around. I mean, I'm 50 right now. But I think, you know, I think about my. My parents are. They were never healthy. You know, they used to drink a lot at the time. They smoked. You know, when everyone smoked. I think there's a picture of my mom pregnant with me, drinking and smoking, which is fantastic. I mean, gosh, terrible. But, man, I turned out okay, right?
- [83:40]
Stephen Bartlett
Yeah.
- [83:41]
Jimmy Fallon
Wink. Okay. Do we listen to this back? Yeah. Maybe I didn't turn out, guys. Maybe this is a lesson. But, yeah, I think about being around for my kids and trying to Be alive and kind of financially stable for my kids, too, because I don't think my parents thought about any of that stuff. They just go, no, just have. It was a lot of fun and a lot of support, and that was a lot of the thing. But they didn't really work out. I think we bought a treadmill twice, you know, different times. Just tried to make it something that we would all do, and no one ever did it.
- [84:23]
Stephen Bartlett
So what does that actually mean for you in terms of your longevity and health journey? Does it mean that you're going to the gym, you're thinking about what you're eating?
- [84:29]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, I'm definitely eating better. I work out when I can. You know, I walk every day. I love walking. But, yeah, I try to, you know, I don't drink as much as I used to, and, you know, I get checkups. Not that I'm unhealthy, but I think, you know, I just want to be around for a long time. I don't even know how long I want to live, to be honest. I don't want to be that old that I'm older than everyone in my. I mean, I want to have people my age. I don't want to be 130, and no one else is like, dude, that guy won't die. I mean, eventually it should happen. I just want to be. I want it to all happen kind of in the right way, and then eventually, as you get, you go on, and they'll all pass away. But I want to be able to be enjoying everything now.
- [85:26]
Stephen Bartlett
For anybody that likes matcha, for anybody that likes lattes, one of my companies has just launched canned matcha lattes. And I was speaking with the founder, Marissa, and she said that creating this product. Product has been no easy feat. They tried launching in 2021, but as is often the case in business, the development process turned out to be extremely complex. So they've spent the last four years testing and refining every single detail to create this, which is a perfect Ted Matcha vanilla latte and a perfect Ted Matcha strawberry latte. So what we have here in these cans is barista quality Matcha straight from the can, and it tastes like it's just been made from your finger. Favorite cafe, naturally sweet and naturally creamy in a can. And the reason why I've invested in this company and I drink Matcha is because Matcha as an energy source gives me lasting energy without the big crashes that I get from other products. Grab their ready to drink canned matcha lattes at Waitrose Tesco's and Holland and Barrett and Perfectted.com where you can use code STEPHEN40 for 40 off your first order. Make sure you keep what I'm about to say to yourself. I'm inviting 10,000 of you to come even deeper into the diary of a CEO. Welcome to my inner circle. This is a brand new private community that I'm launching to the world. We have so many incredible things that happen that you are never shown. We have the briefs that are on my iPad when I'm recording the conversation. We have clips we've never released. We have behind the scenes conversations with the guests and also the episodes that we've never, ever released and so much more. In the circle, you'll have direct access to me. You can tell us what you want this show to be, who you want us to interview, and the types of conversations you would love us to have. But remember, for now, we're only inviting the first 10,000 people that join before it closes. So if you want to join our private closed community, head to the link in the description below or go to doac circle.com I will speak to you there. Is there a next chapter in your mind that you're looking at already? Are you thinking about life beyond tv? Media is changing so much. I mean, you were one of the sort of real pioneers that rode the shift towards the Internet and digital. And you've got more bloody followers on YouTube and Twitter and Instagram than anybody I think of. I think you've got like 100 million followers or something crazy. But are you thinking about the next wave of Jimmy?
- [87:50]
Jimmy Fallon
Not, not, not really. I feel like this is a good gig for that type of aging. I think the older you get, the kind of, the better the talk show gets. Like, you know, Johnny Carson did it for 30 years, I want to say. And you know, I think I can do it as long as there's an audience. And I feel like there is always going to be an audience. I feel like, I know everyone's like, TV is dying. You know, the ratings are dying, but I don't think it is. I think TV is just as powerful as it ever was. I think they're making some of the best entertainment. The best shows are on television, if you call it something else, if you call it Netflix or if you call it, you know, live podcast or whatever it is, you're still watching. You need entertainment and thank God for entertainment because you just find yourself when you're, when you're needing some outlet or creative or something, or even a break, whatever you Want to call it meditation. Television is there for you. You can turn on television and watch a movie, watch a show, and you're like, ah, this is great. For an hour of my life, I don't have to think about my problems. I'm thinking about their problems. Or I'm watching a reality show, whatever show it is you're watching. But your brain's moving. It's not like your brain's shut off. You're listening to this podcast. You're not just zoning out, going. You're actually thinking while you're listening to this. And this is changing the way you think. You may not agree that. I think you might think, oh, television's over. But that's interesting. Still your brain's moving, and this is fun for people to listen to. And this is. I think entertainment is always gonna be. There has to be around. And I think it's just. It's moving this way and that way. But I still feel like eventually there's a screen in your house or wherever you're living that you're gonna wanna see things on. You know, whether it's gonna be through your eyeglasses or if it's gonna be through your, you know, contact lenses or your phone or whatever it is. You know, I don't think it's gonna be the apple goggles, but they have to try.
- [90:01]
Stephen Bartlett
Outside of tv, you're very busy. I was reading through your business portfolio, and it's extremely extensive. You founded a production company.
- [90:09]
Jimmy Fallon
Oh, yeah.
- [90:10]
Stephen Bartlett
Producing several shows, series, films. You made a comedy. A series of comedy albums.
- [90:17]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah. The last one was called Holiday Seasoning, which. It's a Christmas album. But I wanted to create, like, a new verb. Like, hey, we're all holiday seasoning. Like, are you holiday seasoning? I'm celebrating Hanukkah. I'm, you know, I'm celebrating Kwanzaa. We're all holiday seasoning. It didn't take off. But you know what? Maybe in the Future, maybe at 20, 50, people will all be saying, hey, are you holiday seasoning? You know, yeah, we're all. I don't know. I didn't. I don't know if I created what I wanted to. But on that one.
- [90:51]
Stephen Bartlett
But you got the ice cream. The tonight dough.
- [90:54]
Jimmy Fallon
Tonight dough ice cream. We've raised a lot of money for Serious Fun, which is a great charity. It's a great ice cream, by the way. But it actually goes to a great cause, so it's win, win.
- [91:05]
Stephen Bartlett
Beautiful. I was reading about it before.
- [91:07]
Jimmy Fallon
It's really cool. Yeah.
- [91:08]
Stephen Bartlett
And outside of that there's lots of other things, from a ride at the Universal Studios to spinnies to.
- [91:15]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, we got our own roller coaster. Yeah.
- [91:17]
Stephen Bartlett
Crazy Gobstompers skate shoes.
- [91:20]
Jimmy Fallon
Yes. Gobstompers were a sneaker that we came up with that the more you wear them, the more. The more the leather wears down and they become different colors. So eventually every pair of shoes become unique to that person. There's no two pairs of the same shoe.
- [91:38]
Stephen Bartlett
The through line here, Jimmy, is about making people happy. From rides to ice cream to the creativity and the fun of the products that you've made. That appears to be the through line.
- [91:51]
Jimmy Fallon
I like that. Yeah.
- [91:53]
Stephen Bartlett
But that's the through line of your life in many respects. It's a really relentless attempt to please others and to make people smile and to make them happy.
- [92:03]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah, I do. I like that. I like making people happy. It makes me happy.
- [92:10]
Stephen Bartlett
And now you've got two beautiful children.
- [92:13]
Jimmy Fallon
It's the greatest thing.
- [92:14]
Stephen Bartlett
You're a dad.
- [92:14]
Jimmy Fallon
It's the greatest thing. I'm a dad. Can you believe that? This guy would be. This guy would be a dad. This guy would be a dad. This is silliest. And I. I think I'm a good dad. They're the best kids. I love them so much. They're so fun. They're funny, they make jokes. They're interesting, they're interested.
- [92:35]
Stephen Bartlett
How did that shift the meaning of life for you, becoming a father? Because I hear. I'm in the process of hopefully having children at some point. I'm trying to.
- [92:45]
Jimmy Fallon
I'll tell you one thing that surprised me. I don't want to tell you about your own kids, because no spoilers. You're just going to figure it all out. And when they get to a certain age, we'll talk, and you'll be like, dude. And they go, yeah, of course. I didn't want to ruin it for you. It's great. It's a lot. It's great. But the one thing I didn't think would happen to me is I like other kids more. I actually appreciate other kids. And they go, hey, are you not sharing with that? Or, that kid's got no friends. Go talk to that kid. Cause you go, that could happen to me, my kid. So you start thinking about other kids. Hey, no, no, no. Be nice to him. Or he's nice. You know, it's like. And then the screaming baby in the restaurant that once when you were younger, you go, like, will you shut that baby up now? You go like, dude, give me the kid. I'll take the kid for a walk. I will shut. The baby will cut. I understand what it's like to get out and be a parent. And you don't want the kid to cry. And I, I get all that now. And you go, oh, I'm much more patient with that.
- [93:49]
Stephen Bartlett
What advice would you give your two daughters for life? A life well lived, they said, dad, listen, how do we. How do we live a good life?
- [93:59]
Jimmy Fallon
Be nice to people. Give when you can make people smile.
- [94:11]
Stephen Bartlett
What if they say, dad, I. I want to know how to be successful?
- [94:18]
Jimmy Fallon
Then go do what you want to do. I think that will make you successful. Do what you want to do. If you do what you want to do, you'll be successful.
- [94:33]
Stephen Bartlett
How are you misunderstood? Because we're all misunderstood in some way.
- [94:40]
Jimmy Fallon
You know, maybe someone that laughs at everything. I don't really laugh at everything. I do have a good time, but I don't laugh at everything. I think one way I'm misunderstood is maybe people don't think that I know what I'm doing or that I, you know, I'm just living through life like I don't know what's going on, but I do know what's going on and I do care and I put a lot of work into what I do, and I really put a lot of thought and care into things that I put out.
- [95:15]
Stephen Bartlett
What does your gravestone say, Jimmy? If you could write it yourself, I.
- [95:20]
Jimmy Fallon
Would say he had a good time. That's not bad.
- [95:30]
Stephen Bartlett
I like that. Jimmy. Thank. Thank you for doing what you do. It's so unbelievably apparent to me as someone that's just spent a little bit of time for you, that in your heart, you are an incredibly pure, well intentioned, happy, radiant person who has a really authentic desire to spread that to other people and in fact gains a tremendous amount of energy and happiness from making people like me and everyone that you met in my team behind the scenes happy. And we need more people like that in the world, Especially in times like these where there's so much division and the Internet is an absolute war zone. It feels like everybody's frankly losing, if I'm being honest, because everybody's just firing shots at each other on both sides of the aisle, but just generally, just all sides of life. So it's wonderful to have people in the world and safe spaces and fun places that maintain a bubble of happiness and joy and humor, and you're one of those incredible spaces on the Internet, but just generally in life as well. So thank you. It's Such an honor to have spent time with you, and you're someone that I've looked up to forever. You know, you've been on screen for most of my adult life, and I've. Before, I was interviewing people, and I had the privilege of doing this, so you're one of my idols as well. And so thank you for that as well. It's been a tremendous honor. And I feel somewhat. It's incredible that I'm, like, in New York and I'm sat across from you. It's really something special.
- [96:56]
Jimmy Fallon
Keep doing what you're doing. You're great. You're fantastic. Oh, you're so good. I had the greatest time. It was so fun. I wanna say thank you to every camera. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
- [97:09]
Stephen Bartlett
We have a closing tradition where the last guest leaves a question for the next guest, not knowing who they're leaving it for, and we'll ask you to do the same. The question left for you is an interesting one. It was, how would your view of yourself change and how would your behavior change if you learned beyond doubt that reality is not objective, but exists only in what you do and your actions?
- [97:41]
Jimmy Fallon
God. The edibles kicked in. Whoever wrote that one. It's a deep one. Jesus. I wouldn't be shocked. I wouldn't be shocked. I go, wow. I probably would take credit for it. I'd probably say, I knew that. And then you go, wait, what? You knew that? And you go, yeah. I wouldn't be shocked if. If all of this was just my. Based on what I'm doing, it's fascinating if that's the real truth. How fascinating? What a great experiment this was. And I hope I can't. I hope I passed. And again, I'm a people pleaser. Whoever is playing this game, I hope they're enjoying the game they're playing.
- [98:28]
Stephen Bartlett
I sometimes think it's a simulation. We think we've banned that as a.
- [98:32]
Jimmy Fallon
Conversation and someone's playing us.
- [98:34]
Stephen Bartlett
Yeah, they're just messing around. It would make sense.
- [98:36]
Jimmy Fallon
But don't you think whoever's playing us is enjoying themselves? We're good characters.
- [98:42]
Stephen Bartlett
Maybe they started the game and they've.
- [98:44]
Jimmy Fallon
Wandered off and they'll. Oh, no, it's like Toy Story. They don't play us anymore.
- [98:49]
Stephen Bartlett
Yeah, they just, like. They're off doing something else and they forgot and we're, like, fucking around.
- [98:52]
Jimmy Fallon
Yeah. And then they go, oh, I didn't play that in so long. Jimmy Fallon game. Oh, God, no, I didn't play that game anymore. Yeah, no, I had him create a.
- [99:01]
Stephen Bartlett
Business, but they forgot to tell Turn it off.
- [99:04]
Jimmy Fallon
Gosh. But yeah, well, hopefully that you don't have to use. You don't have to play me anymore. I'm going to get to the next level.
- [99:10]
Stephen Bartlett
You will. Jimmy, thank you.
- [99:12]
Jimmy Fallon
You're the best. This was so fun.
- [99:14]
Stephen Bartlett
Thank you so much, everyone. Thank you so much.
- [99:16]
Jimmy Fallon
Pleasure. Pleasure. Thanks for having me in your kitchen. Oh, my God, really? I like what you've done with the place.
- [99:24]
Stephen Bartlett
This has always blown my mind a little bit. 53% of you that, that listen to this show regularly haven't yet subscribed to the show. So could I ask you for a favor? If you like the show and you like what we do here and you want to support us, the free, simple way that you can do just that is by hitting the subscribe button. And my commitment to you is if you do that, then I'll do everything in my power, me and my team, to make sure that this show is better for you every single week. We'll listen to your feedback, we'll find the guests that you want me to speak to, and we'll continue to do what we do. Thank you so much. Q1 is often when businesses start implementing new systems and processes in hopes of creating efficiencies for the year ahead. And over the course of my career, I. I've learned just how crucial having the right systems in place is. One which has helped me across many of My Investments is NetSuite. They're also a sponsor of this podcast. NetSuite is the number one cloud financial system. Through their streamlined platform, you'll find all of your accounting, financial management, inventory and HR in one place. Their technology has been a real game changer, especially for my team at Flight Studio. As over the last year we've moved out of startup mode and into scale up mode. We no longer have to juggle multiple systems and having everything together has reduced the number of manual tasks and errors. Over 41,000 businesses have chosen to future proof their business with NetSuite. So if you'd like to learn how it can help your business, head to netsuite.com bartlett and free download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning. That's netsuite.com bartlett.