Jimmy Fallon powers ‘Tonight Show’ debut with stars like Tina Fey, U2

NEW YORK — Heeeere’s Jimmy!

Jimmy Fallon made his debut Monday as the new host of “The Tonight Show� in an inaugural broadcast that was heavy on star power and sought to capitalize on the franchise’s new digs in New York City after 42 years on the West Coast.

“It’s a historic day. There’s nothing better than being here as ‘The Tonight Show’ returns to 30 Rock,� said Adam Bloom, 38, of New York, as he waited in line to attend the new show’s very first taping at NBC’s headquarters in midtown Manhattan.

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History loomed large throughout the broadcast, which opened with a sequence directed by Spike Lee featuring Fallon at famous New York landmarks. The program was taped at the fully refurbished Studio 6B at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, a sophisticated space outfitted with high ceilings, amber-colored wood paneling and a pale blue couch.

“I’m Jimmy Fallon and I’ll be your host … for now,� cracked the 39-year-old, in a nod to the infamous clash between his predecessors Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien.

In opening remarks made to the 240 or so audience members, Fallon struck a sincere “aw shucks� tone, proudly introducing himself, his house band the Roots and announcer Steve Higgins. He even said “Hi,� to his parents, Jimmy and Gloria Fallon, seated in the audience.

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“I just want to do the best I can and take care of this show for a while and if you guys let me stick around long enough, maybe I’ll get the hang of it,� he said. “My goal is to make you laugh so you go to sleep with a smile on your face and live a longer life.�

With that, Fallon began his monologue in earnest. Lengthened over the past year per advice from Leno and delivered from a spot on the studio floor marked by a four-leaf clover, it was decidedly Olympics-centric on an otherwise slow news day, with the requisite cracks about ice dancing and Bob Costas’ eye infection.

The monologue also included an Olympics-themed “Superlatives,� one of several comedic bits carried over from “Late Night.�

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Fallon and his producers pulled out all the stops for another segment in which a cavalcade of celebrities strolled onstage to hand the host a crisp $100 bill — each apparently having bet (and lost) that he’d never become the host of “Tonight.�

First up was Robert De Niro, Fallon’s inaugural guest on “Late Night� in 2009, who was followed by his one-time “Weekend Update� co-anchor Tina Fey, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the ubiquitous Kim Kardashian and a bewigged Lady Gaga, among many others.

Last to ante up was Fallon’s new time-slot rival, Stephen Colbert. “Welcome to 11:30,’’ said the Comedy Central host, adding an expletive, as he poured a bucket of pennies over his new competitor.

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In choice of guests — U2 and Will Smith — Fallon seemed to be shooting for the mainstream. Clad in denim overalls and brightly patterned T-shirts, he and Smith presented a pre-taped segment called “The Evolution of Hip-Hop Dancing,� a revival of one of “Late Night’s� most popular recurring bits. (Fallon famously presented “The Evolution of Mom Dancing� with First Lady Michelle Obama last year.)

Fallon later asked Smith, “one of the biggest movie stars in the world,� for advice dealing with the pressure of his new job. “People are coming for you,� the actor replied. “‘The Tonight Show’ is big and it’s historic, but people are coming for your heart.�

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With his trademark hyperbole, Fallon promised a set by U2 that would “blow [the] pants off� everyone in attendance.

The Irish band performed its song “Invisible� on the rooftop of Rockefeller Center, some 70 stories above the city, at dusk — the final detail coming in a last-minute note from executive producer Lorne Michaels. They were assisted by drummers from the Rutgers University band.

The group also sat for a chat with the host, who seemed keen to discuss his Irish heritage. “We think positively of the potato famine when Jimmy comes into the situation,� said lead singer Bono.

Fallon persuaded the band to close the show with an acoustic version of their song, “Ordinary Love,� in studio. Though as Bono pointed out, the performance was hardly unplanned.

“Is this one of those spontaneous showbiz moments where things appear from behind the couch?� he asked, and it was.

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‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’

Where: NBC

When: Midnight Tuesday-Thursday; 11:30 p.m. starting Feb. 21

Rating: TV-14 (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 14)