Jimmy Fallon Reveals He Fooled 'Saturday Night Live' Viewers by Pretending to be the Announcer
Jimmy Fallon, known for his remarkable impersonation skills, once deceived Saturday Night Live (SNL) viewers by posing as the show's announcer, Don Pardo. During an episode, Fallon was asked by SNL creator Lorne Michaels to fill in for Pardo, who was ill, and his impression was so convincing that the audience and crew did not notice the switch. This revelation came to light during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, where Fallon discussed the incident. The successful impersonation underscores Fallon's talent, which has been a staple since his days as a cast member on SNL from 1998 to 2004. Previously, Fallon shared another instance where his celebrity impressions were pivotal in securing his role on the iconic show.
Context:
Jimmy Fallon, known for his remarkable impersonation skills, once deceived Saturday Night Live (SNL) viewers by posing as the show's announcer, Don Pardo. During an episode, Fallon was asked by SNL creator Lorne Michaels to fill in for Pardo, who was ill, and his impression was so convincing that the audience and crew did not notice the switch. This revelation came to light during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, where Fallon discussed the incident. The successful impersonation underscores Fallon's talent, which has been a staple since his days as a cast member on SNL from 1998 to 2004. Previously, Fallon shared another instance where his celebrity impressions were pivotal in securing his role on the iconic show.
Dive Deeper:
Jimmy Fallon, a former SNL cast member, expertly impersonated Don Pardo, the show's iconic announcer, when Pardo was unable to perform due to illness.
Lorne Michaels, the creator of SNL, requested Fallon to step in for Pardo on short notice, and Fallon agreed to attempt the impersonation live on air.
The impression was so accurate that neither the audience nor the production team detected the substitution, and this has only recently been disclosed by Fallon.
Fallon discussed this anecdote during an interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, highlighting his ability to convincingly mimic well-known personalities.
This instance is one of several where Fallon's impersonation skills have been showcased, emphasizing their role in his career, particularly his initial hiring by SNL.
The revelation serves as a testament to Fallon's talent and adaptability, contributing to his success in comedy and late-night television hosting.
Fallon's history with impersonations has been a critical factor in his career trajectory, as evidenced by his prior disclosures about gaining his SNL position through similar performances.
Jimmy Fallon‘s iconic impersonation skills once tricked Saturday Night Live viewers for years.
The 50-year-old talk show host, who was a cast member on SNL from 1998-2004, revealed that he once stepped in and pretended to be announcer Don Pardo for an episode.
“[Don] was sick one night and Lorne Michaels said, ‘Jimmy, can you do Don Pardo?’ And I was like, ‘I think I can. I mean, I’ll try?’” he said while on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Apparently, his impression was so accurate, that Don‘s absence went unnoticed until Jimmy‘s recent revelation.
Keep reading to find out more…
“I totally faked. I was doing it live, my impression of Don Pardo. No one figured it out, I pulled it off,” Jimmy said.
If you didn’t see, last year, Jimmy revealed the celebrity impression that landed him his SNL gig.