Jimmy Fallon has been a mainstay in late-night comedy for decades, but he has been a star across multiple genres of pop culture. It now appears that NBC is looking for him to play an entirely new role, as the host of a new reality television competition show, entitled On Brand. The show was announced by NBC on April 16, but it is unclear when the show will film or air in the future. Fans did get some insight into what to expect from the new series.
Jimmy Fallon Brings Marketing Enthusiasm To New Role
Jimmy Fallon is a comedian who has had a prolific career. His accomplishments are quite long. He first made his name on Saturday Night Live, and shifted to late-night TV as host of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and has been the anchor for The Tonight Show since 2014. They also starred in multiple movies, including Fever Pitch and Taxi, and played roles as guest characters in a plethora of other television shows. In 2021, Fallon started hosting a game show with other celebrities, called That’s My Jam, which last aired its third season in 2023. Adding to his career accomplishments, his music releases, and Fallon has established himself as a multi-faceted talent.
One passion Jimmy Fallon has always had is marketing, which makes On Brand a perfect show for him to run. According to the new series’ description, the show “follows what happens when Jimmy Fallon starts a premier marketing agency and fills it with the most creative, clever, and competitive go-getters he can find.” Fallon is known for his marketing skills, having been in major commercials for companies like Pepsi, State Farm, and Capital One.
Acting as Chief Marketing Officer and co-judge for the show is Bozama Saint John. Best known for her appearances on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, “Boz” will act as a mentor and advisor for the contestants. She and Fallon will hear pitches from the contestants and determine which ones are the best marketing campaigns.
Jimmy Fallon went over the list of accomplishments Saint John has had in her career on an appearance on The Tonight Show. “You were the chief brand officer at Uber. You were the head of global marketing at Beats by Dre, Apple Music, and iTunes. You were the head of music and entertainment marketing at Pepsi and did Super Bowl halftime shows like Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, et cetera. You were named Billboard’s Female Executive of the Year, and you were inducted into the American Marketing Hall of Fame.”
Jimmy Fallon shared his reasoning behind doing the show. “I love branding, I love marketing, I love the world of advertising, and I think there are a lot of people out there who do as well,” Fallon said in a statement. “This show lets the audience and our contestants get a peek behind the curtain of how campaigns for some of the biggest brands come together and what goes into making them. It’s exciting.”
Contestants will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas and work with major companies, including Captain Morgan, Dunkin’, Pillsbury, and Samsung. Contestants will compete through a variety of marketing challenges, with one being named “best in the business” and earning a cash prize. The show is scheduled to release late in 2025, although the exact date is to be determined.
Final Thoughts
The new reality show appears to have a similar structure to The Apprentice in terms of developing campaigns for a specific brand. It will be interesting to see how the show plays out. Both Jimmy Fallon and Bozama Saint John have a wealth of knowledge in the field and should provide valuable feedback to the contestants. With the reality television landscape littered with similar shows, it will be refreshing to see a different take that fills a unique hole and niche for audiences. Look for the premiere date to be announced, likely for a fall television lineup, on NBC.
