Don’t know about you, but we are very much enjoying Jimmy Fallon as the new host of The Tonight Show. Fallon, who appeared in the Allen film Anything Else, is a comedy encyclopedia, very much acknowledging the rich comedy history of ‘The Tonight Show‘.

It reminds us of this video, which we are making our video of the week. It’s Woody Allen being the guest host of the Tonight Show in 1971, subbing in for Johnny Carson. At the time, Allen was working on his second film Bananas.

Allen hosted the Tonight Show three times between 1966 and 1971. This video features Allen in his second last appearance – 6th May 1971 – and taking questions from the audience. Ed McMahon is riding shotgun.

Allen’s super fast wit is intact here, and he looks like he is having a lot of fun. Late night talk shows are going through a golden period, and if anybody could get Allen to sit in the chair it would surely be Fallon. Let’s imagine for a second it happens – it would be awesome.

Dailymotion has the full episode which also features Bob Hope and James Coco.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x16d2e9_woody-allen-bob-hope-tonight-show-1971_fun