Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Jimmy Fallon’s Big Night: Brings Back Doc Severinsen, Duets with Neil Young

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What a great night on the Tonight show last night from Los Angeles. Jimmy, torch bearer of the show’s history, welcomed trumpeter Doc Severinsen who led the Tonight show band from 1962 to 1992. And Doc, who’s 87 years young, played like it was yesterday. He was also resplendentin one of his famous floral sportcoats. Doc’s on tour! Good for him. He led the Roots through the real Tonight show theme song, written by Paul Anka. What a swell surprise.

Then watch Jimmy with Neil Young as Neil Young singing “Old Man.” Genius! Fallon’s 1st anniversary is upon us and there’s reason to celebrate. He and Seth Meyers have really catalyzed late night. I’m looking forward to James Corden’s arrival on CBS soon, too.

Doc Severinsen at the 8 minute mark

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Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman is the founder and editor-in-chief of Showbiz411. He wrote the FOX411 column on FoxNews.com from 1999 to 2009 and previously edited Fame magazine and wrote the "Intelligencer" column at New York magazine. His bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, Vogue, Details, and the Miami Herald. He is a voting member of the Critics Choice Awards (Film and Television branches), and his movie reviews are tracked by Rotten Tomatoes. is articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. With D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, he co-produced the 2002 documentary "Only the Strong Survive," which screened at Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

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