NBC Viewers Disappointed with Jimmy Fallon

By all accounts, NBC Sports delivered exceptional coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, which concluded on Sunday.

Although there were some mistakes and issues along the way, these are almost inevitable in an event of such scale.

Thanks to creative initiatives like Gold Zone, Primetime in Paris, and the contributions of Snoop Dogg, this edition of the Summer Games is likely to be remembered fondly for years to come.

Notably, the games brought many viewers together in unexpected ways, including the refreshing absence of sports betting commercials.

NBC featured many celebrities and network talents throughout the event, but it also seemed to unite viewers in their collective desire for a break from Jimmy Fallon.

The NBC late-night host was a recurring presence throughout the Paris Games, notably appearing on the court following Team USA’s victory over France for the men’s basketball gold medal on Saturday.

Fallon joined Mike Tirico on Sunday to chat about his Olympic experiences, delivering his trademark humor that reminded many why he holds the No. 3 spot in network late-night shows.

Fallon also stayed on to offer further insights on the games, the athletes, and the closing ceremony.

However, one particular joke in which Fallon asked Katie Ledecky if she planned to swim home from Paris fell flat, earning a reaction that could have warranted a medal of its own.

While certain celebrities and NBC personalities added value to the Olympics broadcast, social media consensus suggested that Fallon detracted from the overall coverage experience.

Given his status as the host of The Tonight Show, NBC faced a difficult situation incorporating Fallon, who is under contract through 2028. While it made business sense to include him in the Olympics coverage, the diminishing goodwill he holds as a performer and reports of toxic behavior behind the scenes made him seem like a liability.

Source: NBC Olympics, Awful Announcing