There were plenty of milestones that filled 2010's year in late night: Conan O'Brien retired his Tonight Show and premiered his TBS series; Jay Leno returned to NBC's late night perch; President Barack Obama visited The Daily Show; Joan Rivers returned to P.M. programming after being exiled for two decades by Johnny Carson; and Jimmy Kimmel filmed an entire show on a MacBook Pro. But this article is not just for the historically significant moments in late night. It is for the most original, entertaining -- and in some cases -- heart-wrenching after hours segments of the year.
10. Bill Murray Swims in Garbage
While promoting Get Low back in July, comedy legend Bill Murray became the only late night guest this year (or ever?) to jump into a dumpster swimming pool. Without a commercial break, he climbed out, tracked water into the Ed Sullivan Theater and told his old friend David Letterman about Elvis's funeral.
9. Jimmy Fallon and Mick Jagger Parody Lost
In celebration of the final season of Lost, Jimmy Fallon and his crew put together a multi-episode series for their own Lost tribute show called Late. About a group of friends trapped inside Rockefeller Center, this installment features Jimmy Fallon rapping and the Rolling Stone lead singer in a surprise cameo.
8. Conan O'Brien's Crippling NBC Take Down Monologue
Early in January, shortly after Conan O'Brien elected to leave NBC after being forced out of his time slot, the host took off his gloves and delivered one of the most vicious monologues in late night. Unfortunately, video of this Jan. 11 episode has disappeared from the internet -- shocking -- but herewith, a few of the options Conan cited for his post-NBC career.
· Host The Tonight Show at 12:05
· Star in a Lifetime original movie about a woman trapped in an abusive relationship with her network
· Go to ABC and star in a male redhead version of Cougar Town called Redwolf Village
· Host a show on B.E.T. called White All Night
· Move to FOX and follow their hit 24 with a new show called 24:05
· Televise my own colonoscopy on the Bravo Channel in a show called Project Funway
· Convince NBC to let me keep this time slot if I can gain 10 pounds of chin
· Andy [Richter] and I will become a team of wacky morning deejays called "Big Red and the Booger"
· Pretend to put my son in a giant foil balloon, then sit back and watch the offers come pouring in!
· Perform the show live every night from Zanies Comedy Club at 7:30 and 9:30. (Half-price drinks if you tell 'em "Coco" sent ya!)
· Bring sanity back to NBC by hiring Gary Busey as head of programming
· Leave television altogether, and work in a classier business with better people, like hardcore porn.
(Some video from that monologue can be found here.)
7. Jimmy Kimmel Attacks Jay Leno in Uncomfortable 10@10 Segment
In an effort to prove that -- in spite of that entire episode Jimmy Kimmel conducted as Jay Leno (video later in this list) -- Jay and Jimmy were still good friends, Jay Leno Show producers invited Kimmel to satellite into the show for Leno's horrific (and now, thankfully extinct) 10@10 segment. But instead of a friendly segment in which Kimmel reveals what is playing on his iPod, the ABC host skewered Leno on his own show in the most cringe-worthy satellite segment in the history of late night.
6. Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake Teach the History of Hip Hop
Critics may knock Jimmy Fallon for his habit of cracking up during interviews, but the Late Night host deserves praise for delivering some of the most inventive late night segments on television this year -- both pre-taped (Lost and Glee parodies), live (Saturday Night Live-worthy sketches with Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis and more) and last but not least, musical. Take the "Whip My Hair" duet with Bruce Springsteen, the" joyous collaboration between Jeff Goldblum and Biz Markie":http://www.movieline.com/2010/11/late-night-highlights-jeff-goldblum-jimmy-fallon-and-biz-markie-rap-with-the-roots.php on "Just a Friend," and then this awe-inspiring medley of 13 classic rap songs that the Late Night host sang with Justin Timberlake. If there was an Emmy category for Late Night Originality, Fallon would win hands down.
Justin Timberlake & Jimmy Fallon - 30 Year Of RAP History
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5. Chilean Miner Edison Peña Sings Elvis to David Letterman
Even without an English-speaking guest, David Letterman still produced one of the most special highlights of the late night year thanks to the rescued Chilean miner Edison Peña, a natural-born entertainer who, on Nov. 4, regaled the Late Show audience with tales of being trapped underground for 69 days and an Elvis tribute performance. Enjoy.
4. Jimmy Fallon Parodies Glee with the Parks and Recreation Cast
Before blowing away Emmy audience members with a Glee-ful opening act, Jimmy Fallon cut his song and dance teeth on his April 8 Late Night show, where the host debuted an inspired 9-minute pre-taped sketch of 6Bee. The cast of Parks and Recreation guest star as the rival glee club of Late Night's, with appearances by Abby Elliott and Fred Armisen, too.
3. Stephen Colbert Welcomes Back the Troops
The Colbert Report honored the returning troops during his Sept. 8 and 9 "Been There, Won That" shows, which featured an all military audience that was served beer and hot dogs by vice president Joe Biden. "You risked your asses for us, so your asses deserve the best," Stephen Colbert told his audience before revealing that they would all have the opportunity to use the best toilets on the market.
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
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2. Jimmy Kimmel's Epic Jay Leno Send-Up Episode
Even though ABC's late night host was not directly affected by NBC's mistreatment of Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel still took a vehement anti-Leno stance throughout the ConanGate season, the high point of which was the January 13 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which Kimmel hosted while wearing a prosthetic Leno chin and using a lispy delivery for his Headlines segment and schmaltzy conversation with guest Chevy Chase.
1. Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show Farewell Speech
After a heartbreaking battle with NBC -- both behind-the-scenes and on-air -- Conan O'Brien conceded his Tonight Show perch on Jan. 22. Even with surprise guest Steve Carell and a cathartic rendition of "Free Bird" (performed by Will Ferrell, Coco, Ben Harper, Beck and Max Weinberg), the highlight of Conan's final Tonight Show (which drew the highest ratings of the show's run) -- as well as the year in late night -- was this emotional thank you to the network and his fans.
Conan O'Brien's Farewell Speech from Sonlay on Vimeo.