After Fallon accepted the gig, Michaels reportedly told him, “‘Great.
NBC doesn’t really want you.
But we have to talk to them.'”
Jimmy Fallon.Andrew Lipovsky/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Jimmy Fallonclaims that he wasn’t in the initial running to hostLate Night.
“I was leavingSNLand so [Michaels] goes, ‘Would you ever want to do it?
A talk show?’
Six years later, Michaels did just that.
And, if anything, you’re on a great list of people.
Like, this is insane.'”
He continued, “So, I call Lorne, and I go, ‘I’m in.
I’d love to do it.’
He goes, ‘Great.
NBC doesn’t really want you.
But we have to talk to them.’
I’m not even on their list, by the way.”
“I think Lorne said, ‘Look, I’ve worked with Jimmy.
He’s a hard worker.
He’s going to be great at this.
Either you do this with Jimmy or I’m not involved,'” he said.
“Or something like that.
He actually went to bat for me and changed my life.”
Michaels has long been a supporter of Fallon’s late-night hosting career.
“I always thought that was the best use of his talents,” he toldtheNew York Timesin 2014.
“There are very few people who can do that job.
I always say there are a hundred U.S. senators and eight people with their own show.”
That prompted Michaels to give him a call.
Listen to Fallon and Meyers recall getting their gigs in the podcast above.
