Jon Stewart Gave The Roots Their TV Debut

Jimmy talks to Jon Stewart about working with Steve Higgins, The Roots, and much of The Tonight Show staff in the '90s.
Subscribe NOW to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: bit.ly/1nwT1aN
Watch The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Weeknights 11:35/10:35c
Get more Jimmy Fallon:
Follow Jimmy: / jimmyfallon
Like Jimmy: / jimmyfallon
Get more The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon:
Follow The Tonight Show: / fallontonight
Like The Tonight Show: / fallontonight
The Tonight Show Tumblr: / fallontonight
Get more NBC:
NBC KZbin: bit.ly/1dM1qBH
Like NBC: / nbc
Follow NBC: / nbc
NBC Tumblr: / nbctv
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon features hilarious highlights from the show including: comedy sketches, music parodies, celebrity interviews, ridiculous games, and, of course, Jimmy's Thank You Notes and hashtags! You'll also find behind the scenes videos and other great web exclusives.
Jon Stewart Gave The Roots Their TV Debut
/ fallontonight

[@rogerb7729]

He also introduced Stephen Colbert and John Oliver to the world. That alone is a great accomplishment.

[@chrisjohnanderson999]

He introduced John Oliver to America, not The World.

[@rogerb7729]

Chris Anderson I'm from India bro and it's definitely outside USA.

[@raileon]

Chris Anderson well I know him too^^ And I´m from Germany ;-)

[@irock2403]

what about steve carell future oscar winner

[@DanielThureskog]

Also Rob Riggle, Ed Helms and Rob Corddry. :D

[@robbbyyy25]

You see, i never knew Higgins worked with Jon Stewart as well..wtf Higgins resume in the industry must be phenomenal! He has been everywhere in showbiz and worked with majority of greats out there! Higgins you rock! And thank you for all the work and comedy you gave us!!

[@vijaydanushkodi4980]

His and Jimmys comedy fucking stucks. Can you tell me a stand up special that he has? I need to check out his stand up but so far he's terrible in my opinion.

[@KurtVachon]

Vijay Danushkodi They are professional comedians...they don't suck. You just dont like it, that doesn't mean they suck.

[@JakobBraunschweiger]

I agree millions of people enjoy Jimmy's comedy and if you don't, although you are entitled to your own opinion, you shouldn't talk shit in his comment section.

[@Tee-OhBee]

+Syed Mumtaz he's not a stand up comedian you ignorant moron

[@ida5067]

Jon stewart is soo hot

[@jameskellogg8028]

Jon Stewart is so fucking humble. I love it.

[@ShiroKage009]

I was waiting for Colbert to pop in all of a sudden.

[@eleanorisnotgivingyouherla3156]

I can't be the only one that thinks both past and present Jon are really hot

[@chrystinegaines3207]

You aren't

[@greyforge27]

So not only is Jon Stewart the godfather of Comedy Central and satire, but apparently every other late night show as well?

[@NaaimSiddiqi]

Letterman is the godfather of Late Night. Everyone from Conan to Fallon to Kimmel to Jon Stewart cites Letterman as their hero.

[@PrimeraEspadaStark]

Stewart fathered the current Late show, Daily and weekly hosts. Letterman is the grandfather. But currently, Colbert, Noah, Oliver, Meyers, Bee and Klepper All got their start under Jon Stewart.

[@safebans1369]

Jon Stewart is not the godfather of satire mate

[@Tobyee]

👍👍👍

[@fademusic1980]

@@safebans1369 he's saying he is the father of the current generation of satire. You can see all the hallmarks of his style like fingerprints on his progeny.

[@JBF086]

Wow I didn't know Steve had such a large history in TV. Is great to see what he has accomplished. I love his jokes as a sidekick.

[@WestCoastPCbuilder]

Producer and Writer of SNL for the last 20 years.

[@Waterpoet1]

WestCoastPCbuilder Who? Higgins?

[@WestCoastPCbuilder]

higgins

[@TokyoKazama]

He was one of the head writers for SNL for decades, not to mention he wrote, the 'Barry Gibbs' sketch. Which was pure genius.

[@gino88]

And before that he had a sketch comedy show called "the Higgins Boys & Gruber" on Comedy Central

[@andyt2k]

Between Jon Stewart and SNL we now have pretty much all of late night TV

[@2ndRatePetronius]

Just take a look at that lantern-jawed young Jon Stewart! I love this segment. It's great to see how far everyone's come and how much they've all helped each other along the way. Higgins is the bomb.

[@johnwestcott5612]

Jon Stewart's fingerprints will be all over the entertainment industry for decades to come.

[@hanseltgraelles1894]

well he is Jewish lol

[@johnwestcott5612]

HANSELT GRAELLES What does that mean?

[@johnwestcott5612]

HANSELT GRAELLES Yeah, that's why Jon Stewart was on cable and Fallon has the premiere time slot on network TV lol.

[@CasiodorusRex]

I think we all wish Stewart would have taken over for Letterman and not Colbert. I wonder if he was even asked.

[@UltimateBreloom]

+Joe Schmoe I thought he was tired of daily shows, and the work that goes into it.

[@splashboomcrash]

They had a prime opportunity for the title "Jon Stewart has roots with The Roots" and they didn't use it :(

[@pchaech]

+splashboomcrash "Jon Stewart goes back to The Roots of his show"

[@Tobyee]

*Damnnnnnn*

[@c.y.hollander5592]

No great loss.

[@Jay.Laurent]

I have the biggest crush on Jon Stewart. He was hot back then and he's sexy now.

[@muhaddisah]

YES

[@saara7860]

Right?! I totally agree with you! Same here.

[@sadhhukhatri3674]

lokscli

[@sridevipham8057]

totally agreed

[@ibeloggik]

+FinalBoss damn nigga, who hurt you? Lol

[@janakaranjana638]

My gosh everything great has a link to Jon Fucking Stewart.... respect!

[@shiftingyourmind]

Young Jon Stewart... **Heart eyes...swoon!**

[@visor617]

Everything or everyone this man touches, turns gold.

[@proQuran]

J. Stew used to be a hottie back in the day

[@phuckewe178]

He acted a little weird back in the day. Kind of like Adam Sandler's character The Stud Boy on Remote Control.

[@joaped]

used to be? opinions brah

[@muhaddisah]

he's still got it!

[@Buyis]

Lmao. Stew can still get it.

[@rebeccasickler4555]

Still is.

[@shayjay1638]

i like that everyone wearing suits now.

[@nerdnculture6300]

+Shay Jay part of growing up lol

[@fatimasabouni3933]

can we talk about how hot jon was in the 90s

[@navaneetabhaskar1967]

Fatima Sabouni sooooooo hot. 😍

[@xotwod4865]

Fatima Sabouni Haraam.

[@chrystinegaines3207]

Still got it IMHO

[@thalleousscendaris4550]

But now he cute

[@l.nyrabia6011]

I have to agree, I've always viewed him as some cute, handsome uncle but that Jon from the 90s is sumtin else lemme teya

[@noobicore6859]

John Stewart : witty , funny, sharp and a class act. They don't come any better. I miss his show.

[@TheMeanArena]

This is interesting. I've always wondered if we would ever somehow get these old Jon Stewart shows on KZbin or DVD or Blu-ray. My favorite is when Jon had Jean Claude Van Damme on and he challenged him to a game of Street Fighter II on SNES because he was in the Street Fighter movie playing Guile at the time.

[@TonecrafteLuthiery]

Steve Higgins is a very funny man. Everything he says on the Tonight Show is golden. Give him some more air time. Have him be the guest host like how Joan Rivers was for Johnny Carson for a short time.

[@farismag]

+George Mason Yes they should. To me Steve Higgins is the funnier and more talented version of Andy from Conan's show.

[@TonecrafteLuthiery]

Almag, Faris That's exactly what I was thinking, but I don't think Higgins is funnier. I mean, it's really hard to say because Andy is super funny too and he does have a sort of guest host position. I think they're both great comedians. Hard to say which is funnier really.

[@farismag]

George Mason True, but what I have noticed is that Steve is well spoken man, and he can run the show entirely with out the host. I can't see that on Andy, he is funny to me but he is not at that level of being controllable/owned of the show. Also, a lot of times when he intervene, he says something not only unfunny, but also stupid you find Conan changes the subject or calls him stupid or acts face-palming. But with Higgins, he can interact with the guest and with host flawlessly with no problems from my opinion.

[@TonecrafteLuthiery]

Almag, Faris I don't watch Conan as often, so maybe I just missed what you described. I generally think Andy is very funny. I will acknowledge that Higgins and Andy have very different types of humor. Higgins is methodical, well thought out, and able to carry a conversation. He does great impressions as well. Andy is more of a quick, witty, and sometimes "stupid" comic. Thats not to say that he is stupid, I'm talking specifically about the type of humor. Andy will play the dumb character to exploit the humor that comes from stupidity sometimes, often being a punching bag for Conan. One more thing; You noted that Andy will sometimes jump into a conversation and say something unfunny. I think that may just be because he is more active on CONAN than Higgins is on the Tonight Show. Higgins has very little time to talk (which I obviously think is a travesty) and therefore less oppritunity to make mistakes. Andy on the other hand is very active on CONAN, almost like how Joan Rivers was briefly a guest host on Carson. I could be wrong of course, it's just a guess.

[@farismag]

George Mason Well said George, I see your point clearly and you changed my perspective in term of their type of humor.

[@RORAMVS]

"Proceed" Still one of my all time fav songs.

[@surphkid11]

i shall, proceed and continue...

[@yakojjy]

Who the hell didn't Jon Stuart hatch?

[@nidaorange31]

Oh god the 90s fashion is back.. All the girls in the audience. That was fascinating to watch

[@MCwelfare]

Jon Stewart makes Jimmy Fallon watchable.

[@ClassyJohn]

+MCwelfare The second Jon Stewart started talking, he took over the show and it became entertainment.

[@BURCHDOGSHOW]

+MCwelfare Correction: Jon Stewart makes Fallon perceivable

[@bubblechaz]

you make the entire comments section *I don't even know if this sentence makes sense, I'm not a native English speaker but I think you know what I mean.. :D

[@alekas8402]

Jon Stewart makes everything watchable and funny.

[@HominisLupis]

indeed.

[@timetorelax591]

Jimmy Fallon's fake laugh is always on point lol

[@ThaLocOne]

I be thinking I'm the only one who notices then he starts sturttering cause he don't know what's to say

[@MetalFacedGamer]

Jerrell Blackshire lol

[@caseypeanuts3222]

The josh lieb guy who was eating popcorn was also a producer of the daily show

[@JjM91084]

Wow... I remember actually watching the Stewart Show on MTV. The Roots have changed their line up a lot, especially after the mid 2000's, but this video shows the main Roots crew I remember growing up listening to: Black Thought, Knuckles, Rahzel, Quest, Kamal, and Hubs (and you can tell this is their 1st TV appearance since Hubs doesn't have his signature cigar in his mouth). Rahzel was more of a featured beat boxer like Doug E Fresh was for Slick Rick, but he was such a great beatboxer. And it was definitely hard to fill in Hubs footsteps after he left in '07. He was a staple of The Roots. Not sure the name of the bassist they have now, but wish Hubs would've came back w/ em to play on the TS. It would be great to watch a bassist w/ a cigar in his mouth in the TS band every night w/ his scruffy look and his black hoodie. I'm sure Quest and Tariq asked him, but I don't think that's his style

[@lafayette2957]

You forgot the goat Malik B (RIP)

[@kennethdavidcody3624]

Jon Stewart.. The only man to make Jimmy Fallon genuinely laugh.

[@SonGoku-gj8xj]

damn Jon Stewart was handsome back then lol

[@alekas8402]

I think he still is xD Maybe bc he's so funny, and i found that very attractive.

[@rumples584]

the jawline doesn't hurt either hah

[@lindalemoni5428]

he's by far the most attractive man on this planet to me

[@caltwentyfour8726]

So awesome! This made me very happy to see how far everyone's come :) Nice!

[@RoboticDragon]

The reaction of the roots to themselves is awesome.

[@sailormood]

is it me or was jon stewart kinda hot back in the day?

[@pyroblast3000]

+donteishere7 Is it me or are you really hot right now? #ThethirstisReal

[@matt7352]

+pyroblast3000 ya, thats an actor as her profile pic.

[@sailormood]

*****​ .....that's definitely a selfie haha, unless you were being sarcastic, in which case ignore me lol

[@matt7352]

+donteishere7 sarcastic. how? I couldn't be anymore serious

[@sailormood]

***** you're funny lol

[@jacobbubb8158]

Just awesome

[@cullencochran3393]

Just gained a whole new respect for Higgins. So fucking funny!

[@kylemma33]

John has brought us a lot of bright stars. He is basically another SNL. Correct me if I'm wrong but he brought us Steve Carell and Rob Riggle right?

[@madgirlportugal]

And Steven colbert.

[@jakescott2642]

And John Oliver and Steven Colbert

[@blackbird2937]

Idk about carrell but riggle was on snl

[@ShooterVP]

Ed Helms got a big break on The Daily Show aswell

[@cogithefool4284]

I think Carell was in CC but didn't worked with Jon He did, however, worked with Colbert

[@t0mmyb0y75]

"Does anyone have a cola?" LOL

[@iiiiii3023]

Jon Stewart is the man!

[@annageorge1992]

That is a legacy. He made history with comedy scene and then moulded a lot of comedians who eventually carried on the scene. What more can one expect from a person?

[@sunstripe85]

Aww, I love Jon Stewart! So happy to see him on Jimmy's show. That's also funny how many people he had a hand in bringing in.

[@ChrisRCsofa]

hahaha im so glad i watched this vid this morning

[@brothadude]

Jon must have been buying turtlenecks with Dwayne Johnson in 95.

[@DanielDanielsen]

I miss Jon

[@tkmaz]

I used to have a crush on Jon Stewart in '95.... I totally thought the comedian was going to be Fallon but was he on the circuit then? I saw him in '97 as he sang of troll dolls.

[@jennachristy03]

Jon Stewart does look good at those clips! i was shocked it's my first time seeing what he looked liked in the 90's :D

[@SergeiFragov]

jennachristy03 Well... age... it always gets ya'.

[@jennachristy03]

sershX true! and he did mention something about him and the producer not fairing the same as the others (who looked like they got younger instead of older) hehe

[@nobody_1325]

I will never EVER figure out what woman are attracted to.

[@tkmaz]

Red X When they make us laugh - we like them. :) Looks come second to laughter.

[@sarahs5340]

Xoxo John Stewart! Miss him.

[@PiazzaGurl]

This is so cool. A reunion for Jon Stewart. Much credit to this guy. I think he helped modernize Talk Shows with all the wacky things and skits he's done. I loved his show on MTV. One of my favorite skits was the Star Trek one. Lol.

[@TokyoKazama]

I was a chubby 5 year old when The Roots got their debut, haha

[@alaskagal4958]

I was a chubby 25 year old when The Roots got their debut ... *sigh*

[@TokyoKazama]

Alaskagal49 Aww, haha :P

[@voteZDLR]

I was 24 years old when I read this comment. You do the math.

[@rolandholland82]

i gota chubby

[@alaskagal4958]

voteZDLR Gotta give props to Snarky-boy for being witty: Son? Son? Is that you? :)

[@OnTheREDPILL]

The josh guy looks older than everyone else there yet he's the youngest lol

[@Stormie33]

+Armando Mendiola Yea, barely even looks like the same guy. He lost a lot of hair and that mustache isn't doing him any favors.

[@Samperor]

+Armando Mendiola I wondered how he got to be an executive producer if he was green horn.

[@Allagi22]

The mustache is not helping him.

[@LisaLisa-rl3pm]

That ol skool music clip was the bomb. Love jon stewart! Love the roots!

[@nadkert01]

Great Man. I hope there is more on NBC Europe tonight. How lucky you are in USA with Stewart, Fallon,Colbert, Oliver etc. So different. So good...

[@PatrickAllenNL]

when jimmy says 'we have a clip' I'm like öhhhh yeah right'

[@alexcastro7959]

They do have a clip

[@dadadruma]

LOL Me too!!!

[@xxy5306]

Jon Stewart used to have the best bands on his show in the 90's, i remember Helmet, Marilyn Manson, Bad Religion, Weezer, and they all got to play two songs which was cool.

[@pryderacing8056]

I love these throw backs. Great storytelling and very entertaining!

[@SchUlrich]

why this doesn't have 10M views ?

[@PoosinP]

It's crazy to think that this happened before my birth.

[@phantastic013]

Crazy it's almost 20 years for them! He aged so much lol good to see the history of them

[@ncegamncedicbayana9912]

""blame the fatman" ..classic

[@irritablysavvy]

This makes me happy. So cool.

[@GabrielDiaz-zn2po]

The Roots are Legends too you know. Huge fan since a teenager.

[@Calida]

That was so fun! And the surprise staff member wow! You never know who you're gonna work with!

[@madibuzzer]

90s jon can get it damn

[@sergioavila2720]

So many carriers thanks to this guy right here 🙌

[@natvasch6399]

The most adorable thing is how Jon rolls to the side and hides his face when he laughs... It's so cute!!Not to mention that he has been and still is incredibly attractive

[@benjoshua3049]

*literally every single one of The Roots were nodding at **0:08** xD*

[@babygrl2878]

Wow. That's pretty awesome.

[@antisomething4248]

He’s made a serious list of people who they are

[@kevinho1922]

Wow it's such a small world I didn't realize how many of them practically grew up together in showbiz it's so interesting to look back and see the progression.

[@sufia14]

classic 90s! miss those times!

[@joshsmithson7060]

So cool. Memory lane / where are they now... They are all HERE. so cool.

[@MsTaLaiah]

I love this history lesson. The Roots and Higgins history 🎉🎉

[@MeganSin]

I think Jon Stewart still looks good for his age, but omg! Steve looks exactly the same!

[@AnaghaJoshua]

Jon was hot!!! like super hot!! I did not realise it until now!!!

[@nadjawmiller]

I loved that you could hear the Roots laughing in the background while the clip was playing

[@MrSassyB]

Jon, the university ... amazing

[@pjlong]

Young Jon Stewart looks like part Paul Rudd and part Tom Cavanaugh (kinda sounds like him too)

[@HelgaCavoli]

Only time EVER I've seen Jimmy conduct a proper interview.

[@PunkPrincess975]

Jon actually looks better now

[@kimsjustice09]

This was awesome! Loved it! Higgins is the best❤️

[@missytiffy87]

Walking down memory lane ❤

[@Velgaeris]

if you pause at 0:29, you'll see the perfect picture representation of this show: the guest looking mildly confused/unamused while Jimmy laughs at - what seems to be - the funniest joke ever told.

[@mollie41000]

I love Jon Stewart.

[@Vestilence]

Higgins!

[@afrosymphony8207]

woooow that was amazing! at the end...showbiz is just like one big giant high school

[@DESTRO350]

I remember watching that show, it was the first time I ever heard The Roots.

[@kindahunnie2217]

Jon Stewart is hot what the hell is he talking about?

[@richardmbowman]

Damn....these are some of my favorite ...and most admired people. Stewart, Quest, Black Thought, Fallon,..... Wow.

[@nabanitabanerjee9385]

Before this I had seen JS as a guest only on Colbert's show. This was delightful. What a wonderful man.

[@rumples584]

I thought the chocolate dude was Jimmy Fallon

[@djkhush284]

THIS. IS. GOLD!

[@WildxLemon]

Jon Stewart is THE man!

[@Elrastaboliviano]

OMG at the end!

[@charminghk]

Wow I didn't realize how popular john Stewart was until recently ... :)

[@jazzingirl]

Because I am a fat man hahaha dear god

[@sarahberkner]

I love that twist, "He's our executive producer!"

[@jomontanee]

Mr.Stewart gave many today rising performers the early platform before they had a big break. I totally respect him with all my heart. Ps. Young Stewart was so freaking hot.

[@rodham8935]

Jon Stewart is fucking fantastic, what a great man!

[@ardenvida4598]

Woah, woah, whoa... How did I miss how freaking hot Jon Stewart was???!?

[@MarianA-ez4wi]

Amazing

[@KK-gg9hx]

John Stewart- underrated, underappreciated, truly funny. ..he also never shies away from the chance to casually mention that he smokes. =)