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TV Zone

News, scoops, reviews and more from TV land.

Jessica Paré on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon:' Charming

quot;Mad Men” actress Jessica Pare attends the celebration

Photo credit: AP

Did you know that Jessica Paré - who's doing a bang-up job on this season's "Mad Men" as the soap actress with a faithless feckless husband known as Don Draper - has never ever been a guest on a late night show? I didn't either, but she made her debut on last night's "Late Show with Jimmy Fallon." I think that merits a blog post - don't you? She was - as fans would rightly expect - charming: Talked about this season, how she got the gig, and a little more about "Zou Bisou Bisou." Take it away:  

Questions, answers about Leno, 'Tonight,' Fallon ...

Jimmy Fallon appears on quot;The Tonight Show with

Photo credit: Getty Images

As usual, you, dear reader, have come to the right blog for questions -- and answers -- about the huge late-night TV transition that took place Wednesday involving Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon and the single most prestigious, famous, legendary, storied franchise on all of television: "The Tonight Show."

Let's get straight to them, shall we -- with an asterisk firmly attached: These are...

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Leno, Fallon weigh in on transition

Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon traded last night  what you'd expect - jokes. Jay: Rumors already starting that Justin Bieber will replace Jimmy in five years... Jimmy? Well, in his monologue he barely touched on the transition...but the Roots played the old classic "Tonight Show" lead-in, and that's kind of all that was needed...In the host chat segment later Jimmy talked about how emotional this whole thing was, etc., and thanked Jay for being so gracious and...this: His move to "Tonight" (he said) will actually be February, not March of '14, as was indicated yesterday... 

Letterman on Jay Leno, Fallon succession at 'Tonight'

Selena Gomez and David Letterman discuss what they

Photo credit: Worldwide Pants Inc.

Of course, David Letterman had something to say about Jay Leno, "The Tonight Show," Jimmy Fallon, Dave's mom, Univision... We'd be terribly disappointed if he didn't. In fact,  this is terrific: It's funny and shrewd at the same time, for as Dave points out so accurately, haven't they done this at NBC before? A preview: 

Will Brian Williams replace David Letterman?

NBC News anchor Brian Williams attends the premiere

Photo credit: AP

Will Brian Williams replace David Letterman as host of "Late Show with David Letterman?" After all, the "Tonight" gig is about to be taken by Jimmy Fallon, so his (Brian's) options are suddenly limited if he wants to branch out into late night. But really, who knows? Crazier things have happened... Check out this clip as evidence.

  

Seth Meyers a lock for 'Late Night?'

Actor Seth Meyers attends the off-Broadway opening night

Photo credit: Getty Images

Seth Meyers has been the favored candidate to replace Jimmy Fallon when the latter heads to "Tonight" -- at least in the realm of speculation -- but has he suddenly been elevated to prohibitive favorite? The Hollywood Reporter, which first broke the Fallon-to-"Tonight" story in early March, says he has moved up from possible to "probable."  

 (Meanwhile, there also is word that NBC has finalized the deal with Fallon to take over "Tonight," as expected. Awaiting comment from NBC.)  

The challenge of Meyers' succession? Obvious: He's done a heck of a job as head writer and of course "Weekend Update" anchor for a show ("Saturday Night Live")  that's seeing a creative and ratings resurgence this year. How will Lorne Michaels replace him? Good luck with that.

 While Meyers could certainly do the gig, what I've never seen him do -- though I imagine he could (it's not rocket science, after all) -- is interview a celebrity with rapt attention night after night.  He was a succesfful stand-in on "Live with Kelly" for a long while, and has done plenty of mock interviews on "Update" -- but interviewing a star... who's promoting a movie... every night?... 

Sure! Piece of cake. The "Kelly" run was so long and so successful, at least in the eyes of ABC and "Live," that for a moment he was also considered the prohibitive favorite to take over the seat once occupied by Regis Philbin, which went to Michael Strahan instead.

Did Lorne say hold tight; the "Late Night" gig will be your's for the taking before long? . 

Jimmy Fallon, Jay Leno duet: Funny? Sad? Stupid? Smart?

Presenters Jimmy Fallon, left, and Jay Leno in

Photo credit: Getty Images

OK, show of hands - funny, not funny?

Effective or a waste of time?

Smart...stupid?

Hey wait a minute, this is my column, and I'm going with "funny," "effective," "smart."

That would be early Tuesday's morning Jay Leno/Jimmy Fallon duet on "Late Night" - an adroitly autotuned rendition of the Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim classic,...

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Jimmy Fallon, Jay Leno: The 'Tonight' duet

Jimmy Fallon and Jay Leno at the 70th

Photo credit: Getty Images

Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon ... Just late night rivals ... or lovers? The intriguing possibility was raised Monday night in this duet, sung to "Tonight," at the beginning of "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon:"  (And yes, of course I reviewed this! Go here for that...)

"Why do they say we fight, I like you, you like me ... we're OK ... "

 Check it out -- it's good and this could the beginning of a beautiful new relationship ...

Jay Leno monologue: Peace with NBC 'never gonna happen'

Jay Leno, host of quot;The Tonight Show with

Photo credit: AP

Jay Leno, NBC, late night battle...coverage of all three in TV blogs like this one...Thank heavens for Jay because otherwise we'd be unemployed. Another dig at NBC in last night's monologue...of course harmless. 

'Tonight Show' wars: Will Jay talk to Jimmy? Jimmy to Jay?

Ah yes, the Late Night Wars: A major conflagration ongoing at the moment, and the United Nations will address this shortly ... unless Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon take care of matters first. Watch, and learn (nothing; happy April Fool's Day):

  

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