I don't watch Late Night at all, so far be it from me to pass judgment on the quality of the show, but if this is how Fallon runs all his interviews it has to be the most awkward show in the world. When Tim Schafer is on your show and delivers all the good lines in an interview you gotta start working a little harder. It's too bad too, because Fallon is the only person around giving games their due on a massive network show. I fully echo Fallon's belief that new videogame releases should be treated like movie openings, so at least the heart is there.
In the video above Fallon and Schafer discuss Schafer's new game, Brutal Legend. They touch on topics such as inspiration for the game, landing Jack Black and meeting Ozzy Osbourne. It's actually a pretty good interview thanks to Schafer's jokes and the fact that what he's talking about is interesting. Hopefully Fallon learns to keep up with his guests at some point because the more gaming interviews on network TV the better.
Matthew Razak is Destructoid's Associate editor and co-founder of film site Flixist. He began as community member "cowzilla" and was since sequestered to write brainy features material. He lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife.
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I wasn't a Fallon fan until he started doing these kinds of interviews. This proves that his finger is the one on the true pulse of society and where the generational gap is going to cross, and eventually take over.
Colbert tried to do this a few times but his character just kind of steals the thunder since he's so out there and there aren't many designers who look good on tv much less who can remain as interesting as Colbert for 5 minutes.
My left nut is funnier than Fallon. I only watch Fallon based on the guest. I fast fwd the first 30 minutes and jump right to the guest. He's opening monologue and time wasting audience participation bits are pathetic!, to say the least.
Ugh I hate Jimmy Fallon with a passion. I don't care how many brownie points he's trying to score with the cool kids, it still doesn't make up for the fact that he's nearly 40 and still acting like a hipster college kid who needs to lay off internet fads.
I normally do NOT like Jimmy Fallon, but am strangely attracted to his show. However, Jimmy is such a man-wuss that he can't seem to ever keep a hold of his own show if things get a little crazy, and he doesn't interview people well enough. I can't believe I missed this interview when it first came on!
Well all in all, it wasn't bad PR for Schafer and crew. I'm happy for him and you gotta count your blessings. 20 years ago do you think we'd be seeing game designers on late night tv show interviews? I think not.
Jimmy Fallon's producers really deserve the credit for his show.
Jimmy himself has always traditionally ruined things he's been in (laughing during sketches while everyone else can keep it together: stupid smirks while "not acting"). Jimmy's charm translates well in terms of the type of guests he has on (Morgan Webb, etc), but he is NOT camera friendly, and is NOT superstar material.
That awkwardness you see is him not being able to deal with being on live TV: he's an amateur that got a really lucky break. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the network execs know he's terrible, and are just using him as an experiment.
Eh, he's a good guy that can't handle having his own shoe, like Magnalon said. I'd probably be the same way if I were given the chance.
I respect that he wants to treat major video game releases like blockbuster movies and I hope he keeps doing these interviews when something big is coming out.
Alas, Tim Schafer was running the whole interview and did a good job of it too.
Fallon is a terrible host. He is constantly awkward and never seems to know what to say. One time I watched an interview with him and someone else on his show, and the guest ended up interviewing FALLON instead. Stupid show is stupid. I'll stick with my Conan Tonight, thank you.
Jimmy has always been awkward, I like him more than other hosts because he will genuinely laugh at their jokes and such, Conan's laughs are painfully awkward because they are so clearly ingenuine.
The only late night mavens I stand by are Conan, Stewart and Ferguson (especially Craig Ferguson - the man is fucking hysterically funny).
It's good that these guys are getting a bit of notoriety, though. That goes double for Tim Schafer - that man deserves overwhelming support for the courage to bring his creative visions to life with no hold barred and demanding the right to do so from his publishers.
I'm gonna stand up for Fallon! I watch the show regularly and love it. He's a bit awkward at times, but that makes the conversations feel more...familiar to me. He seems aware of his faults and works with them. Most host are just so blase and smooth about everything. Its a nice change of pace to have "normal guy" do a show. I do wish Fallon would get off the Roots' nuts every now and then...
Fallon can be a little awkward, but damn guys... When you're interviewing Madonna or Paris Hilton or Robert DeNiro, they're superstars, you can talk to them about anything and people will care.
Tim, while awesome, is not exactly a celebrity. Fallon can't just be like "oh, how you been? What's the weather like in nebraska? So, tell us about this incident with the paparazzi?"
All he can talk about is the game, and I, for one, am glad he's willing to do so. He's better than any podcast on your iPod. SHIT PEOPLE!
Ferguson's not much of an interviewer (can't remember the last time I watched that long) but up until that point in the show, he's genuinely hilarious, which is weird because from the one standup show I've seen of his, he wasn't nearly as funny.
Of the Fallon shows I've seen and this has been true of most of them, he gets upstaged a lot. I watched the first show and thought man if this was a show with just The Roots I'd totally watch it every night.
I thought Fallon was kind of a tool but after seeing his enthusiasm for video games I changed my mind about him. Tim Schafer is so awesome for making this game so Metal and I can't wait to pick it up with U2 Roctober 13th.
Haven't seen Fallon interview before, good god the man is awkward. It's like watching MYSELF try and talk to someone I admired in front of a camera. Which makes it even more uncomfortable to watch.
Anyway, love Tim Shafer. Buying the game at launch. Somehow it should be possible to buy the game directly from him. Like he toured the country in a van with copies of the game. Or maybe one of those ice cream trucks, but it just sold Brutal Legend. And played heavy metal as it drove down the street, Tim Shafer driving with a manic grin on his face.
Get on that, world.
Props to Tim. I've always thought he was one of the more interesting minds in the industry, but this just confirmed it for me. Not only can he take an off-the-wall idea and run with it, but he can be spontaneously hilarious. I'm sure 90% of the other designers in the industry would have gotten up there and just smiled and answered questions. Not played along and interjected about meeting at the Four Seasons sounding weak compared to meeting in hell.
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Contest:
1:00 PM on 10.04.2009
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Colbert tried to do this a few times but his character just kind of steals the thunder since he's so out there and there aren't many designers who look good on tv much less who can remain as interesting as Colbert for 5 minutes.
I remember that Will Wright interview. Ugh.
Lol@ satan "gaining a little weight"
That's how I see him too. His awkwardness is a little painful to watch.
Jimmy himself has always traditionally ruined things he's been in (laughing during sketches while everyone else can keep it together: stupid smirks while "not acting"). Jimmy's charm translates well in terms of the type of guests he has on (Morgan Webb, etc), but he is NOT camera friendly, and is NOT superstar material.
That awkwardness you see is him not being able to deal with being on live TV: he's an amateur that got a really lucky break. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the network execs know he's terrible, and are just using him as an experiment.
I should be able to watch this shit even if I live in the UK.
God dammit...
I respect that he wants to treat major video game releases like blockbuster movies and I hope he keeps doing these interviews when something big is coming out.
Alas, Tim Schafer was running the whole interview and did a good job of it too.
Also, Tim needs a haircut.
It's good that these guys are getting a bit of notoriety, though. That goes double for Tim Schafer - that man deserves overwhelming support for the courage to bring his creative visions to life with no hold barred and demanding the right to do so from his publishers.
Videogames have gotten big exposure on late night before. Recently, George Harrison's son was on Conan talking about THe Beatles Rock Band.
So yeah, I agree with Jcup.
Also, game developer interviews are sweet.
Tim, while awesome, is not exactly a celebrity. Fallon can't just be like "oh, how you been? What's the weather like in nebraska? So, tell us about this incident with the paparazzi?"
All he can talk about is the game, and I, for one, am glad he's willing to do so. He's better than any podcast on your iPod. SHIT PEOPLE!
Really? Ugh... craig ferguson is the worst of the lot.
Ferguson's not much of an interviewer (can't remember the last time I watched that long) but up until that point in the show, he's genuinely hilarious, which is weird because from the one standup show I've seen of his, he wasn't nearly as funny.
WTF?
Tim Schafer really deserve the credit for his show.
fixed.
Anyway, love Tim Shafer. Buying the game at launch. Somehow it should be possible to buy the game directly from him. Like he toured the country in a van with copies of the game. Or maybe one of those ice cream trucks, but it just sold Brutal Legend. And played heavy metal as it drove down the street, Tim Shafer driving with a manic grin on his face.
Get on that, world.