COVID-19 hits late-night TV: Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon both test positive
Both of NBC’s late-night TV hosts, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, have tested positive for COVID-19 as the Omicron variant continues to spread across New York.
On Monday, Fallon announced via Instagram that he tested positive for the coronavirus “on the first day of our holiday break.†The next day, Meyers confirmed that he too had contracted COVID-19. “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon†and “Late Night With Seth Meyers†are both taped at New York City’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
According to his latest Instagram post, Fallon appears to have already recovered from his bout with COVID-19. The comedian, who had received a vaccine and booster shot, said he experienced “mild symptoms.â€
What is it like for homebound writers and host to make late-night comedy in the time of coronavirus? ‘Not normal,’ says Seth Meyers.
“Thank you to the doctors and nurses who work so hard around the clock to get everyone vaxxed,†he captioned a photo of himself wearing a surgical mask in a glass office marked “What ‘chu talkin’ about Willis†— a phrase from the hit NBC sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes.â€
“Thank you to NBC for taking the testing protocols so seriously and doing a great job — and also thanks for putting me in the ‘What ‘chu talkin’ about Willis?’ isolation room when they told me the news.â€
Meyers, on the other hand, seems to have been more recently diagnosed and has canceled “Late Night†for the rest of the week while he recovers.
“The bad news is, I tested positive for COVID (thanks, 2022!) the good news is, I feel fine (thanks vaccines and booster!),†he tweeted Tuesday morning. “Tune in next Monday to see what cool location we will try and pass off as a studio!!!â€
On Monday’s installment of “Late Night,†the cast of NBC’s “This Is Us†and singer David Byrne chatted remotely via video with Meyers, who was in the studio.
Other celebrity guests originally set to appear on “Late Night†this week were Paul Giamatti, Stacey Abrams, Jamie Demetriou, Michael C. Hall, Margaret Qualley, Benson Boone, Judi Dench and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
With Whoopi out sick, ‘The View’ panelists shared their COVID-related holiday stories. Sunny Hostin got emotional during her touching, scary tale.
Monday’s episode of “The Tonight Show†was filmed in studio, as usual, and featured a mix of remote and in-person appearances from Anthony Anderson, Adam Devine and Carly Pearce.
Fallon’s upcoming guests include Milo Ventimiglia, Sabrina Carpenter, Cate Blanchett, Nate Bargatze, Kenan Thompson, Elle Fanning, JB Smoove and the cast of “Queer Eye.â€
News of Fallon and Meyers testing positive comes on the heels of another TV personality, Whoopi Goldberg, contracting a breakthrough case of COVID-19. The co-host of “The View†missed Monday’s show as she deals with “very, very mild†symptoms. Fellow panelist Joy Behar predicted Goldberg would return “probably next week.â€
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