The TV Zone

Very good group interview with Jimmy Fallon, now on-going, and I thought you might care to learn of some highlights:

What about the show?

"We're different in the fact that we're younger, we're into tech stuff, gadgets, video games - we'll treat video game premieres like a movie premiere..I want to be honest with what I like. Not going to hide the fact that people are on the Internet all day. Most kids come home from school, don't go to the TV but go to the Internet...then they watch TV; other people work all day, 9 to 5, watch clips [on the Web]...I'm like that and I'm not going to hide that fact. We're going to try and be as interactive with our fans as possible. On flickr and digg...tape at 5:30 and ask people to tweet us..."

Hey Jimbo [I'm kidding - no one called him Jimbo, but how long before someone DOES?], what about those great guests you got coming up - De Niro, Van Morrison, Tina Fey...?

"De Niro, just the quintessential New Yorker and legendary actor. I worked with him once - we're not friends per se, but we like each other...He is just so cool and a really nice guy to work with. He also comes off as a tough interview, and it's kinda good to have my first guest a tough interview. It might be terrible, it might be awful, but he represents New York more than anyone.He's the king...

"Van is performing the full album of 'Astral Weeks' [really??!!] Thats' a phenomenal record. I also grew up an Irish kid and he comes on your iPod in your brain when you're born. One of my favorites of all time so the fact he was in town was pure luck...Tina? I figured I'd call in my favors early....I love her. She's just the nicest person...she said she'd do anything for me..."

D'ya worry about all those failed talk shows, like Magic's and Chevy's Etc.?

"This is a hundred percent what I'm doing...I'm putting everything into this. It's not like I was in twenty great comedy movies before this, not a legendary NBA basketball star, though I get mistaken for that a lot. I really wanna be around a long time time, and I'm really focused..."

Will you do remotes?

"Yes, more than shows in the past. New York is a huge playground. We'll be more New York centric than the show in the past..."

Conan give you any advice?

"Said you just gotta do it. Just keep doing it. Get up there and start swinging and you'll figure it out...It's good advice. You can prepare, and get great writers, directors, but if you don't get these interviews right down, it can get weird. Even a writer can't save you. The more I do it, the more comfortable I'll be..."

Anybody else give you advice?

Leno, and "Jimmy Kimmel, Ellen DeGeneres, Garry Shandling...they were great to me. But Colbert told me something that Conan gave to [him] that Carson gave to Conan...In the show you'll use everything you know. That's the truth. You'll use everything you've ever known."

(Pix: Peter Kramer, AP)