For the first time since March 2020, a live audience returned to 30 Rock for “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon”, Fox News found.
The seats have been empty since the coronavirus pandemic closed New York City and forced the show to be filmed at home for several months.
Fallon returned to the studio in July and worked with a minimal team until Monday night, when he welcomed the socially distant and masked audience members.
New Yorker Andy Cohen was the personal guest and Fallon, who was wearing a suit, revealed that 58 people were in the audience.
‘TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON’ RETURNS TO THE STUDIO WITHOUT AN PUBLIC
“I’ve never been so excited to do a show for 58 people in my entire life,” joked Fallon. “After last year, it’s like performing at a sold out Madison Square Garden.”
Presenter Jimmy Fallon presents the monologue on March 22, 2021, with a small audience of 58 people.
(Andrew Lipovsky / NBC)
Fallon also revealed that all members of the audience were fully vaccinated as first respondents and the audience for the rest of the week will continue to be the first respondents and health professionals.
Tonight Show, The Roots, was also in the studio, but sideways and spreading.
‘SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’ BRING THE LIVE AUDIENCE BACK WITH CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS
Fallon described on social media the feeling of having people back. “I can’t describe the feeling of playing in front of a live audience. We work well together. I missed it so much. Thank you, ”he said on Instagram.
NBC’s other series, “Saturday Night Live”, has featured a small, masked audience at Studio 8H since October.
Guests of the “SNL” studio are supposed to have to take a mandatory COVID-19 test upon arrival. The test is self-administered and can produce results in time for the show.
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As an extra precaution, there are reports of temperature checks and face masks to be worn by audience members at all times.