Last month, comedian and television host Jimmy Fallon released the debut of his new television show, On Brand With Jimmy Fallon. Each episode will be sponsored by a globally known brand such as Dunkin Donuts, Pillsbury, and Southwest Airlines and contestants will have to create a marketing campaign for that company and pitch it. The winner will receive a cash prize of $100,000 in addition to special appearances on billboards and magazines in some of the biggest cities in America.
“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,” said Fallon.
Fallon started his journey to fame by pursuing stand-up comedy, eventually landing his lifelong dream of being a cast member for six years on the hit primetime series, Saturday Night Live. He left the show in 2004 to play Detective Andrew Washburn in the movie Taxi. In 2014, Jimmy Fallon became the new permanent host on The Tonight Show, which he has continued since then. He is also known for his impressive writing, producing, and surprisingly, singing in various television and film productions. Fallon has also worked with artists such as Meghan Trainor and the Jonas Brothers to produce holiday songs, which listeners have enjoyed over the years.
Bozoma Saint John, former Chief Marketing Officer for Netflix, and current cast member of the reality television series, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, will be working alongside Fallon for On Brand With Jimmy Fallon. She has worked in marketing for over 25 years for some of the biggest brand names in the world, including Uber, Apple Music, and iTunes. John was also the head of music and entertainment marketing at Pepsi, and has helped advertise the Super Bowl Halftime Shows for performers like Beyoncé and Bruno Mars.
“I had never heard of Bozoma Saint John until this new show was released, but I love her story and her background in marketing! I think she is going to help the contestants learn how to work in this competitive field, and come out very successful,” said senior Aurora Mata.
On the show, the contestants will have to use their creativity and entrepreneurship skills to promote their ideas to the judges. The contestants will have to figure out how to entertain all ages and generations, which will be a tricky part of competition. Millennials and Generation Z members often receive the majority of their news and updates from their phones, while Baby Boomers and Generation X members might still read print newspapers. This will challenge contestants to find a way to entertain many different age groups. Contestants will need to be focused, sharp, and ready to work.
“I think the idea of this new show is so cool! The show reminds me of Shark Tank, as people pitch their product ideas to a panel of judges, hoping to get a deal. I am very excited to see how the show does, and what the contestants will promote,” said senior Amanda Mellow.
To celebrate the premiere of On Brand With Jimmy Fallon, NBC has partnered with Canva, a graphic design company, to have a contest in which anyone can attempt to design the billboard for the new series. The winner will have their original billboard on Sunset Boulevard, a famous walkway in Los Angeles, California, and will win a trip to New York City to see The Tonight Show, starring Jimmy Fallon.
“I love watching The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, so I am very excited to hear how his new show turns out. I like how the contestants are promoting products for real companies, and big companies too. This will help them gain a lot of experience, which is important in the field of marketing,” said junior Isabella Imperiale.
Fans are so excited to see this new show take off. The show airs on Tuesday and Friday nights, and is streaming on Apple TV, Amazon Video, and other streaming platforms. Fallon is ready to promote the next generation of marketing geniuses, and audiences are ready to watch the contestants work.