Tools for this page
Print

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

(Rated TV-14, Comedy, Starring Jimmy Fallon, Where to watch: NBC, Online)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    (Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Sometimes-racy show has younger feel than other chat fests.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–16

The good stuff

  • Role models:

    Fallon doesn't miss opportunities to make snarky, snide jokes, but he also often seems like an everyday guy suddenly thrust into the spotlight who's shocked by his good fortune to suddenly be sitting next to the entertainment industry’s biggest stars.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Like most late-night shows, the series doesn't shy away from mocking celebrities and other prominent people, especially when they do something embarrassing. That said, the show also has a "celebrities are people too" fibe, and Fallon can seem more star-struck than his fellow late-night hosts, which eases the snark factor a bit.
  • Violence:

    A few comic pratfalls here and there.
  • Sex:

    Plenty of racy jokes and humorous anecdotes about sex. Some aren't that subtle.
  • Language:

    Some words are bleeped. Unbleeped words include usual suspects like "damn" and "hell."
  • Consumerism:

    The stars who appear on the show usually have a project to promote, especially TV shows and movies.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some of the jokes and stories center on drinking and taking drugs, and the attitude of the host and his guests seems to encourage getting wasted.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Parents need to know that the later a late-night show airs, the racier it gets, and generally the younger the target audience. That’s not to say this one is aimed at kids, because it’s not ... but plenty of teens are watching, either during broadcast or when clips are posted online (more than many other late-night hosts, Fallon has embraced the Web). Expect plenty of jokes and anecdotes centered on sex, drugs, and liquor -- topics that will certainly appeal to college students, twenty-somethings, and, yes, high schoolers as well. Note: Most teens who watch late-night shows like this check them out on a "time-shift" basis via DVR or the aforementioned online clips, rather than at the original 11:30 p.m.-or-later air time -- which is better for their sleep habits!

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the topics that Fallon discusses during his monologues and with his guests. Do you think his talking points come up spontaneously, or are they mostly scripted? Is there an agenda behind his guests’ visits, such as promoting a movie or TV show?
  • How do you think late-night shows decide which guests should appear? Can you detect any kind of hierarchy in which hosts can land the biggest names? Do you see any patterns in when people appear?
  • How do late-night talk shows influcence other areas of the media?

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Have you seen it? Review It!

  • What did you think about Late Night with Jimmy Fallon?
  •  I think this show is

    for ages

  •  I also give it

  •  Any concerns?

  •  Any highlights?

  •  Love it? Hate it?

  • or to post a review

More Great Stuff For Your Kids

  • Now Playing

    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

    Age-apropriate 3-D food adventure doesn't fully satisfy.

  • Issue Spotlight

    Rules of the Road for Texting

    Rules of the Road for Texting

    Set limits long before they get behind the wheel.

  • Book of the Week

    Lips Touch Three Times

    Lips Touch Three Times

    Wildly inventive, wonderful fairy tales for mature teens.

  • Member Buzz

    Sending Mom a TXT

    Sending Mom a TXT

    Is it easier for parents to communicate with their kids via text?

  • Game of the Week

    LEGO Rock Band

    LEGO Rock Band

    Simplified, no-fail Rock Band with a whimsical story.

Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
  • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
  • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
  • Post your own reviews and share them with friends

This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
A screen name protects your privacy
To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
A screen name protects your privacy

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
(optional)
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
A screen name protects your privacy
Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
I'm already a Common Sense member.
Kids under 13 must use a screen name