NEWS
(l-r) Host Jimmy Fallon, Josh Groban, and Alessia Cara on 'That's My Jam.'
Trae Patton/NBCOn a preview episode of That’s My Jam that aired in November, The Voice coaches Ariana Grande and Kelly Clarkson competed in the ultimate pop diva showdown, trading impossibly challenging vocal runs from the likes of Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. Now, ahead of the show’s official premiere Monday night (Jan. 3), host Jimmy Fallon is wondering: How do we top that?
“People were weeping in the audience,” Fallon tells Billboard‘s Pop Shop Podcast (listen to the full episode below). “The microphone was melting. I’m thinking, ‘Oh this is cool, man. This is unbelievable. This is great TV.'”
Audiences definitely tuned in for the moment, with that sneak episode marking the season’s most-watched unscripted debut, with 6.4 million viewers. It remains to be seen if the crowd will be moved to tears again, but Fallon assures that there is a lot more star power and more surprises on the horizon.
“You’d be shocked to see who comes in and scores,” Fallon says of some of the show’s non-musician celebrity contestants. “Everyone we had on has a secret thing. They can all sing. Kate Hudson is amazing, by the way. I always knew she was musical, but I didn’t know if she could really sing – she could really sing.”
The show includes some of the musical games you know and love from The Tonight Show “but given a prime-time budget,” Fallon says. And all the games are backed by a live band. “We have a great band that aren’t The Roots – The Roots are the greatest, but these are the baby Roots,” Fallon laughs. “They’re so talented.”
Monday night’s premiere features Alessia Cara & Josh Groban facing off against Chance the Rapper & Joseph Gordon-Levitt. In a preview clip, we see Chance turn Nelly’s 2002 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 smash “Hot in Herre” into a country-rock boot-stomper. “Never in my life did I think that was going to work, but it did!” Fallon marvels in the clip.
In addition to the lineup already onboard for this season, does Fallon have any dream guests in mind? He mentioned recent Tonight Show guests (and New Year’s Eve co-hosts) Miley Cyrus and Pete Davidson, and, of course, he has an old pal in mind. “Timberlake — obviously the call’s out to him,” Fallon says, adding: “Whoever has any remote dream of maybe singing something … just come on and play with us. We don’t take it too seriously.”
Mostly, Fallon just wants to add more lighthearted entertainment to the world with the new show, which airs Monday nights at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
“The world is so heavy right now,” he says. “Give me a fun option and I’ll take it. We’re working hard to be funny and fun and entertain you, and if you want that option, take it. … I think it’s something everyone can watch and laugh at together.”
Faith No More appear to be hinting at a return to the stage in 2027.
The influential alt-metal band have remained mostly quiet over the past decade following the release of their reunion album ‘Sol Invictus’ in 2015. After its arrival, they played what would become their most recent live performances in 2016 and later called off several touring plans in the years that followed.
Now, however, they seem to be preparing fans for something new. The group recently shared an image of a concert crowd on social media with nothing more than the text “2027” placed across it.
No additional information accompanied the post, but it quickly sparked speculation among fans, many of whom believe a full scale tour announcement could be coming next year.
After wrapping up their 2016 run of shows, the band intended to return to the road in 2020. Those plans were ultimately abandoned because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Further touring plans surfaced in 2021 as venues began reopening, but those dates were also cancelled before they could begin. Frontman Mike Patton later explained that mental health struggles were behind the decision and revealed he had been diagnosed with agoraphobia during the pandemic.
Until recently, a reunion seemed unlikely. Patton spoke about Faith No More’s lengthy break and said that he did not “see it as a sad thing”.
Speaking on the Kyle Meredith With… podcast and reflecting on whether he felt a “sense of closure” after the 2016 tour, the vocalist said: “I didn’t really think so at the time, but, yeah, maybe. I think that we all kind of felt it, but it was unspoken.”
“It’s funny: when you’ve been in a band or a musical situation for a period of time, you always, in the back of your head, you’re kind of thinking, ‘Well, maybe this is it.’ And I don’t mind that feeling,” he added. “I don’t see it as a sad thing. I see it as being present and being able to really appreciate it while it’s happening.”
Faith No More have never formally announced a breakup following the cancellation of their 2021 tour, although other members have suggested in recent years that the chances of touring again were uncertain.
Last year, guitarist Roddy Bottum discussed the band's future and admitted they were in a “really weird spot”. “I can’t really tell you what’s going on. I don’t know myself. I get different information from people… and I’m in the band,” he said.
Drummer Mike Bordin echoed similar thoughts last spring, saying that he and some of the other members were willing to perform again, but claimed Patton was “unwilling to do shows with us”.
In addition to leading Faith No More since 1989 after replacing original singer Chuck Mosley, Patton has also been involved with projects including Mr Bungle, Fantômas, and Tomahawk.
Tomahawk recently unveiled plans for their first tour in 13 years, with a series of US dates scheduled for this summer. The run begins in Nashville next month and will also see Patton and his bandmates reunite with longtime labelmates Melvins for the first time since 2003.
Patton has also recently launched his tour with Avett Brothers and teamed up with Jehnny Beth on the new single ‘Look At Me’.
