#LIVE: From Detroit, We experience the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon!
Last night, we did something a little unusual for us. For a music magazine, we typically cover the live music scene in Detroit and the Midwest. Of course, we want to bring your attention to what’s going on across the world in the music scene as well. Last night, though, we tried something different, and we weren’t the only ones. NBC’s Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon took the crew and stage to downtown Detroit for an exclusive One Night Only taping of their show, sponsored by Ford Motor Company.
Going into tonight's show, we expected a heavy Detroit theme episode filled with music, food, and, of course, what Ford Motor Company had in store—entering its fifth year of collaboration with the late-night talk show and its longstanding partnership with NBCUniversal. We were very curious about what it would look like in our home base. For over 20 years, Ford Motor Company and Ford Philanthropy have proudly supported the Detroit Opera House and its mission to expand the arts to new audiences and communities, which made this the perfect venue for the show.
Detroit was already in high spirits as it was the first game of the season for the Lions against the Chicago Bears. Many of the diehard fans watch the game live from their phones as they wait to get into the Detroit Opera House, where the show was going to be taped. For many of these fans (and us), this was their first time experiencing a taping of a show, especially of this magnitude. This is the first time that the Tonight Show was in Detroit, and they made sure to pull out all the stops.
After a brief delay to accommodate fresh new material, we were finally inside the opera house. The Opera house, which seats a little under three thousand, was filled to the brim with fans who made it in via a lottery (Through 1iota) or managed to grab the last few seats that morning. Seats were mainly randomized, with some of our friends seated in the front and others up in the mezzanine. We were up in the boxes, with a great view of the whole show, along with the audience. Because this was being taped, we had the chance to see how the filming was proceeding.
The main filming crane was positioned right in front of our box, which would swivel around, giving out pan and zoom shots of the fans, Fallon, and the stage. Given the position of the crane, our booth knew we were not going to be in any of the shots, but the people next to us had the camera right in their faces. After hearing the stage manager's directions, we knew what to do. Applause when we see her hands up or when the screen prompts us to, and be back before the commercial break, or you’ll be locked out of the venue until next break.
After all that, it was…Showtime.
Tonight’s Special Guests: Keegan-Michael Key, Cade Cunningham, and a musical performance by Common featuring Bilal and The Roots.
The show's format looks precisely like what you see on screen, but with some bonus content filmed outside of the venue. What you see we saw on two big screens positioned off stage. Each clip showcases what the Ford Motor Company has done and what they are planning next as part of their “Ready Set Ford” campaign.
Ready Set Ford is more than a tagline. It’s a catalyst designed to help our customers reach their full potential and feel ready for anything. It’s our public commitment to you that our capability, our passion, and our innovation will match your own. And it's a signal of a new chapter for Ford, one filled with energy and excitement.
While the auto industry is increasingly defined by sameness and making cars that just get us from point A to B, Ford is re-committing to passion vehicles that bring out the best in human capability. Capability is what unites everything we build – from race cars to Bronco® SUVs to Raptor® vehicles and Fleet Management Software.
We've been listening intently to our customers — to their needs and challenges. This has led us to make three big, strategic decisions to modernize and re-energize the Ford brand for a new era, and we’re doing this by embracing our authentic strengths.
Of course, that also means being a little silly. Being escorted around the city, Jimmy had the chance to score a field goal at Ford Field with the help of the Detroit Lions mascot, Roary; Pitching sled slingshot ideas at the new headquarters, and singing Motown favorites on the rooftop looking over the Detroit skyline.
Speaking of singing, there was plenty of that, especially if you are a fan of the Lip-Sync Battles. The first guest of the night was comedian and Detroit native Keegan-Michael Key, battling it out with Jimmy before joining him after the commercial break. The musical guest was Common, whose latest album was recorded here in Detroit. Like we said earlier, we expected a heavy Detroit theme episode.
Speaking of early conversation, we cannot forget about the game. As a surprise to the audience, the Defence end Aiden Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions snuck on stage. Not only to announce their first win of the season, but also to give Jimmy the game-winning ball. This is the best way to end the night for the fans.
Just like that, it was over. The night sky was soon approaching as fans chattered amongst each other, heading to their various destinations. As someone who wanted to attend a taping of a late-night show for their New York trip (I could have seen J Hope), this is truly one of the best experiences to add to your next trip to New York. We found ourselves laughing and cheering out of pure joy at it all. These shows are free to apply for, and the opportunity to participate can make the night even more grand.
More On The Tonight Show
“The Tonight Show” is the longest-running talk show on television and the #1 late-night program on digital. Taped in front of a live studio audience from Studio 6B at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City, “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” airs Mondays through Fridays from 11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET/PT on NBC and is available on demand on Peacock. For more, follow @FallonTonight on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Subscribe to "The Tonight Show’s" YouTube channel for the latest clips, digital exclusives and the making of the show. See special behind-the-scenes content of Jimmy and his guests at the @FallonTonightBTS Instagram.
Photo credit Todd Owyoung/NBC
