Jimmy Fallon’s video for “Idiot Boyfriend” is still his best work. Saturday Night Live has been a breeding ground for great comic talent, including Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Mike Myers, Kristen Wiig, Eddie Murphy, and Kate McKinnon. It was Jimmy Fallon’s career goal to join the legendary sketch comedy series and he made his debut in 1998. During Fallon’s tenure on the show he became infamous for breaking character during his sketches, which is a trait some found endearing, whilst others found it just annoying.
Jimmy Fallon left SNL in 2004 to embark on a movie career. Comics making a successful transition from the hit show to movies was famously tricky, and Fallon didn’t have much luck with his efforts. He co-starred alongside Queen Latifah in the remake of French action-comedy Taxi, which did respectable business but received weak reviews. He followed this with rom-com Fever Pitch with Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet), which ended up being a box-office dud.
While his movie career didn’t quite pan out, Jimmy Fallon soon moved on to host Late Night, which ran for five seasons. Fallon’s focus on musical numbers made the show a hit, and he was eventually selected to take over from Jay Leno for The Tonight Show in 2014. His obsession with music continued on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, which shouldn’t have been a surprise to anybody who followed his career. In fact, he created possibly his best work with the song “Idiot Boyfriend,” which came off his comedy album “The Bathroom Wall.”
The premise of the “Idiot Boyfriend” video finds Fallon’s nervous boyfriend meeting his girlfriend’s family for the first time during her grandmother’s birthday. He’s asked to perform a song and despite his nerves, he decides the best course of action is to perform a raunchy number where he admits to making out with his girlfriend’s best friend and practically lap-dancing for her grandmother. The song is basically a comedy riff on Prince, with Fallon doing a surprisingly good job with the high notes. His girlfriend is notably played by Zooey Deschanel, future star of New Girl.
Jimmy Fallon’s “Idiot Boyfriend” isn’t exactly a classic, but it’s a well-executed comedy song that excels in cringe. Fallon is clearly having a blast with the video, which features Prince and Michael Jackson references. While Jimmy Fallon can be something of an acquired taste amongst comedy fans, “Idiot Boyfriend” at least proves him capable of greatness from time to time.
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