Jimmy Fallon, the Roots Groove on ‘Tonight Show’ Dance Line Sketch
Last week, Jimmy Fallon battled – and lost – in a goofy Tonight Show dance-off with Jennifer Lopez, as the duo squared off to determine who wore the tightest pants. (Let’s face it: He never stood a chance.) But with a new week comes a new opportunity for rug-cutting glory, and on Tuesday night’s episode, Fallon and house band the Roots brought their A-game boogie for another installment of the funky sketch “Dance Avenue.”
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The retro dance show parody opens with an old-school intro (complete with an Eighties NBC peacock), as an announcer suggests they “kick this off with a Dance Avenue dance line.” The rest is pure hilarity, soundtracked by a catchy disco-synth groove and dominated by Fallon’s endless parade of costume changes – from Native American braids to a hideously bright Cosby sweater to a Travolta-style disco leisure suit.
Always ready to flex their comedic muscles, the Roots also joined in on the action. Frontman Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter offers the biggest chuckle, dancing in a sailor’s hat and loud orange slacks. The sketch also features appearances from a slew of unexpected guests, including Optimus Prime, an Abe Lincoln look-alike, an almond-eyed extraterrestrial and Hashtag, The Tonight Show‘s recurring panda mascot.
Music and dancing have always been crucial to Fallon’s late-night charm. Last week, the host paired with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to demonstrate the “History of Dad Dancing,” and on Monday, NBC anchor Brian Williams returned to the rap game once more, spitting hot fire in a sampled video of Sir-Mix-A-Lot’s bootylicious anthem “Baby Got Back.”