Jimmy Fallon just got Conan's job

Posted by Michael Dance

It was rumored about as early as two years ago, and NBC wasn't supposed to announce it until May, but Fox News confirmed the scoop: Jimmy Fallon will replace Conan O'Brien when O'Brien inherits The Tonight Show from Jay Leno in May 2009.

Good news or bad news? I may possibly be the only person on the entire Internet who likes Fallon. I spend much of my day reading geeky fanboy websites, and whenever one of them mentions "Jimmy Fallon," you should see the insults from talkbackers. Here's one sample I found on AintitCool.com after searching for less than 2 seconds:

another dick who thinks he's the funniest guy on the planet gets his own show. and this is the reason people don't watch TV anymore.

I considered trying to explain to that person how you need to capitalize the beginning of sentences, but whenever I post on AintitCool, I just get yelled at.

The facts: Jimmy Fallon and current TV queen Tina Fey worked side-by-side for four years on SNL's Weekend Update and had great chemistry. (In fact, he's very obviously the basis for the character Lonny Ross plays on 30 Rock.) Fallon can do lots of really good impressions - Carson Daly, Dave Matthews, Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, and the list goes on. He had a small role in the modern classic Almost Famous. And admit it, you liked Fever Pitch. How can anybody hate the guy?

The one major thing I didn't like about Fallon - his tendency to crack up in every single SNL sketch he was ever in - will actually serve him well as a late night host.

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