Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon responded to criticism he is too soft on his guests earlier this week, by explaining it is not his job to ask tough questions of controversial public figures.
During an interview on Bill Carter’s SiriusXM radio show Monday, the host, a former New York Times TV reporter and current CNN contributor, pressed Fallon about his interview tactics, and cited criticism he throws too many softballs to big name guests.
“The knock on you from people is that, you’re a kiss ass maybe, your interviews are soft, you love everybody,” said Carter. “Your show is supposed to be fun, thats the idea. Right?”
“That’s not my job,” Fallon said of going in-depth on the issues. “It’s not Meet the Press. I’m not Face the Nation.”
“You can watch those shows and see that. My job is, again, is to make everyone look good. No matter who it is. If you’re a politician, if you’re, whatever its is,” said Fallon.
The host added: “We have people on that people don’t like. I know that. But that’s not my job. You make your own opinion. I can just show you the best person that they are and try to bring them out in a more personal side, and play with them.”
Listen to a clip of the interview below:
Recent Tonight Show guests include Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, Democrat frontrunner Hillary Clinton, and former HP CEO Carly Fiorina.
Meanwhile, Fallon’s CBS rival, Stephen Colbert, has taken a more issues-driven approach to guest interviews, just a month into his tenure at The Late Show.
Colbert welcomed Sen. Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, all in the same week last month.
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