Career Timeline of Jimmy Fallon: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Jimmy Fallon, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Jimmy Fallon is a multifaceted American entertainer, recognized as a comedian, television host, actor, singer, writer, and producer. He is primarily known for his successful career in television, where he has hosted and appeared in numerous shows, showcasing his comedic talents and musical abilities.
1995: Moves to Los Angeles
In 1995, Jimmy Fallon dropped out of college to move to Los Angeles and pursue comedy full-time.
1997: Appears in The Scheme, Role in Father's Day Cut
In 1997, Jimmy Fallon appeared in the feature film The Scheme, originally titled The Entrepreneurs. His line in the film Father's Day was cut, but he can be seen in the background.
1997: Auditions for Saturday Night Live
In 1997, after working with the Groundlings for two years, Jimmy Fallon auditioned for Saturday Night Live but was unsuccessful. He made sure to include a clause in his contract for The WB pilot presentation, allowing him to join SNL if offered.
September 1998: Debut on Saturday Night Live
In September 1998, Jimmy Fallon debuted on Saturday Night Live as a featured player at the beginning of the show's twenty-fourth season.
1998: Appears on Spin City
In 1998, Jimmy Fallon appeared briefly on the show Spin City in the second season as a man selling photographs.
1998: Joins Saturday Night Live
In 1998, Jimmy Fallon joined the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live as a cast member, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
1999: Releases "I Hate This Place: A Pessimist's Guide to Life"
In 1999, Jimmy Fallon released a book titled I Hate This Place: A Pessimist's Guide to Life, which was comprised of e-mail exchanges with his sister Gloria.
2000: Plays a Minor Role in Almost Famous
In 2000, Jimmy Fallon played a minor role in the film Almost Famous.
December 2001: Favorite SNL Sketch
In December 2001, Jimmy Fallon considered a sketch where he imitates Mick Jagger in a mirror opposite Jagger as his favorite thing he had done up to that point on SNL.
2001: Co-Hosts MTV Movie Awards
In 2001, Jimmy Fallon co-hosted the MTV Movie Awards.
2002: Co-Hosts MTV Video Music Awards, Releases "The Bathroom Wall", Models for Calvin Klein, Named One of People's Most Beautiful People
In 2002, Jimmy Fallon co-hosted the MTV Video Music Awards. He also released his debut comedy album, The Bathroom Wall, modeled for Calvin Klein, and was named one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.
2003: Shoots Taxi and Returns to SNL
In the fall of 2003, Jimmy Fallon split his time between shooting the film Taxi in Los Angeles and returning to New York City for Saturday Night Live.
May 2004: Leaves SNL at the End of Season 29
In May 2004, Jimmy Fallon signed off at the conclusion of Saturday Night Live's twenty-ninth season, marking the end of his sixth season on the show.
2004: Pursues Film Career, Stars in Taxi
In 2004, Jimmy Fallon began to pursue a film career. He signed on for his first lead role in Taxi, a remake of a French film.
2004: Leaves Saturday Night Live, Stars in Taxi
In 2004, Jimmy Fallon left Saturday Night Live to pursue a film career, starring in movies such as Taxi.
2004: Taxi Premieres
In the fall of 2004, Taxi premiered but was a flop with critics and audiences, marking Jimmy Fallon's first failure.
2005: Stars in Fever Pitch
In 2005, Jimmy Fallon starred in the film Fever Pitch.
February 2007: NBC Gives Fallon Holding Deal
In February 2007, NBC gave Jimmy Fallon a holding deal, as urged by Lorne Michaels, so that he could not be lured elsewhere for the Late Night franchise.
May 2008: Announced as Successor to O'Brien's Late Night
In May 2008, Jimmy Fallon was announced as the successor to Conan O'Brien's Late Night.
March 2009: Premiere of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
In March 2009, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon premiered to mixed reviews. The show's style solidified when it used Susan Boyle as a joke.
2009: Hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
In 2009, Jimmy Fallon returned to television as the host of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on NBC. He was noted for a focus on music and video games.
2009: Monty Python Documentary Appearance
In 2009, Jimmy Fallon spoke about the influence of Monty Python on him when he appeared in the television documentary, Monty Python: Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut).
2010: Hosts 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards
In 2010, Jimmy Fallon hosted the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards.
2010: Show Finds Footing and First Viral Clip
In 2010, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon found its footing during The Tonight Show debacle. The show embraced social media and the Internet, and online interaction became crucial to its success. The show also scored its first viral clip: Fallon and Timberlake performing a "History of Rap".
2012: Releases "Blow Your Pants Off"
In 2012, Jimmy Fallon released his second comedy album, Blow Your Pants Off, which compiles many of his musical performances on Late Night.
August 2013: Earning $11 Million a Year
As of August 2013, Jimmy Fallon was earning a salary of $11 million a year for his work on Late Night.
2013: "Blow Your Pants Off" Wins Grammy
In 2013, Jimmy Fallon's album, Blow Your Pants Off, won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album. Discussions for Fallon to take over The Tonight Show began in early 2013.
February 17, 2014: The Tonight Show Debut
On February 17, 2014, Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show debut on NBC engaged 11.3 million viewers.
2014: Becomes Host of The Tonight Show
In 2014, Jimmy Fallon left Late Night to become the sixth permanent host of The Tonight Show.
June 2015: Releases "Your Baby's First Word Will Be Dada"
In June 2015, Jimmy Fallon's third book, Your Baby's First Word Will Be Dada, a children's book, was released.
September 15, 2016: Hosts Donald Trump on The Tonight Show
On September 15, 2016, Jimmy Fallon hosted Donald Trump on The Tonight Show. He received criticism for his uncontroversial questions.
March 2017: Apologizes for Trump Interview
In March 2017, Jimmy Fallon apologized for the interview with Donald Trump, stating he didn't intend to humanize or minimize him and was just trying to have fun.
June 2018: Further Apology for Trump Interview
In June 2018, Jimmy Fallon again apologized for the interview with Donald Trump on a podcast with The Hollywood Reporter, stating he "made a mistake" and did not do it to "normalize" Trump.
2020: Creates Limited-Edition Pacifiers with WubbaNub
In 2020, Jimmy Fallon and pacifier company WubbaNub created limited-edition pacifiers based on the penguin and cow characters from his children's books.
November 29, 2021: That's My Jam Debut
On November 29, 2021, Jimmy Fallon debuted a new musical game show on NBC called That's My Jam, featuring games similar to those on The Tonight Show.
2022: That's My Jam Renewed for Second Season
In 2022, That's My Jam was renewed for a second season, showcasing its popularity.
August 30, 2023: Hosting Strike Force Five Podcast
On August 30, 2023, Jimmy Fallon began co-hosting the comedy podcast Strike Force Five with fellow late-night hosts to support staff members affected by the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.
September 2023: Fallon's 'Tonight Show' Workplace Culture Controversy
In September 2023, Rolling Stone published an article titled "Chaos, Comedy, and 'Crying Rooms': Inside Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show'" detailing allegations of a toxic workplace culture at The Tonight Show under Jimmy Fallon, leading to an apology from Fallon to his staff.
2023: That's My Jam Renewed for Third Season
In 2023, That's My Jam was renewed for a third season, marking another milestone for the show.
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