Jimmy Fallon Is Done With All-Night Ragers

At almost 50 years old, 'The Tonight Show' host is looking for ways to optimize his sleep routine.

Fact checked by Sarah ScottFact checked by Sarah Scott

Even though Jimmy Fallon isn’t ready for summer to end, he’s all in for the holidays—all of them. His new children’s book, 5 More Sleeps ’Til Halloween, about a boy waiting for trick-or-treat night, is out this week and dedicated to a childhood neighbor who would dole out full-size candy bars on Halloween. He’s a regular performer at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. And in a few months he’ll drop a holiday album full of epic collaborations (Ariana Grande! Jonas Brothers! Dolly Parton!). Just hearing about all the projects he’s lined up is enough to make anyone daydream about a long winter’s nap!

But at nearly 50 years old, The Tonight Show host keeps pushing for more. His inspiration? Daughters Winnie, 11, and Frances, 9. “I used to work hard on my career for myself. Now it’s about my kids. I want to show them that they can be as creative as I am and enjoy the process,” he says. “Don’t do it for money. Don’t do it for praise. Do it because you like it and you’ll be happy for the rest of your life.”

“Amen!” I tell him. But Jimmy isn’t trying to be preachy. He just wants his children, your children, and everyone in his orbit to have fun.

Last time I saw you we were celebrating your 10th anniversary on The Tonight Show. Your 50th birthday is on September 19—where’s my invitation?

I’ve gotten to the age where I don't love big parties anymore. I don't want a giant rager. My dream would be a quiet dinner with my family. I've been taking better care of myself. I'm reading a lot about breathing more through my nose. I swear! It’s much better for you. I think it’s about longevity, stress levels, heart rate, and all that stuff. I guess people that talk a lot breathe through their mouths. So, I'm reading about how to tape my mouth shut when I go to sleep and force myself to breathe through my nose to get a better night’s sleep. I have to do this under supervision. So, I'm going to have security guards next to my bed and try this—I'm not kidding!

I’m going to fact-check this, Jimmy! Do your daughters share your sense of humor?

Yes. I love seeing them get a joke. The new thing they’re doing is calling me “father,” because they know it drives me crazy. “Good morning, father.” I’m like, “Why are you doing this? Call me daddy.” Other people must think I’m strict if they hear them but they’re just being funny. I have two really great girls. They went to sleepaway camp for the first time this year and had a blast. But my wife [Nancy Juvonen] and I were the saddest human beings on the face of the earth. We missed them so much and could only talk to them during one little time slot. It was like they were in prison.

My daughters are the same age as yours. How do you maintain that tight bond as they get older?

They know that they can trust me and talk to me about anything. We’ll go on walks and I get to listen to some good stories. We’ll sing Hamilton and Taylor Swift. And weirdly enough—I know it's gonna sound bad—but phones are becoming a great way to communicate. They FaceTime me all the time. They text me. I get the cutest messages from them. It’s another way for me to talk to them if I'm at work. They're not bored by me yet.

I’ve seen you interact with other kids and it seems like you’re a hit with all children.

Being a dad has increased my love of other people’s children. I don't want anyone to be mean to my daughters, so I teach them to be nice. And if I ever see some other kid getting bullied or someone being rude to a child, I feel even more protective of that child. I stand up for kids I don't even know. I want everyone to just laugh, have fun, and enjoy their childhood as long as they can.

You also want grownups to enjoy their adulthood, which I appreciate.

I'm lucky. I'm surrounded by funny people. I get to laugh all day long. Life is better if you just start having more fun. That's why people watch my show—to get away from the problems and laugh. I’m not saying you should ignore your feelings but, if you can, move towards the fun. I have a great crew and writers. And that’s our goal. You put on The Tonight Show and forget about stuff, and you laugh. Then you go to sleep with your mouth taped up.

A Final Thought

Ok, let’s all check with our doctors before taping our mouths shut. I know we’re all looking for ways to get better sleep (have I told you about my weighted blanket?). I also love the idea of leaning into the fun, even when life feels heavy. Laughing helps relieve tension and lightens the mood. It also teaches our kids to shift their perspective when they get frustrated. Thanks for the reminder, Jimmy!

Until next time,

Grace

grace.bastidas@parents.com

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