Tonight Show

Questlove says he had the time of his life DJ-ing the Oscars over the weekend, but his one regret ... he couldn't shoo away winners who took forever with their acceptance speeches.

We got "The Tonight Show" band frontman heading into work Tuesday at NBC Studios in NYC and he told our guy he was ordered by Oscars producer Steven Soderbergh to stand down on playing any kind of wrap-up-your-speech music.

The famous DJ said compiling his walk-off music was one of the first tasks he completed when he got the gig ... but Soderbergh, one of 3 producers of the Oscars, foiled the plan.

That's too bad ... 'cause Questlove said his playlist was tight and a perfect sendoff to long-winded winners.

All good though ... Questlove says he's been going to the Oscars for a decade now and really enjoyed the new format. So much so ... he said he hopes it's the new normal.

There were some pretty cool moments (albeit scripted) ... like when Questlove played EU's classic "Da Butt" and got Glenn Close to play along and dance her ass off.

Addison Rae says she loves and respects all the TikTok dance creators who made up the moves she taught Jimmy Fallon ... and she hopes they can work together following the controversy she and Jimmy have sparked.

We got the TikTok star out in L.A. Monday ... in the midst of her catching flak for her 'Tonight Show' segment Friday ... which has been criticized for stealing from Black entertainers without giving due credit.

ICYMI ... Addison performed 8 popular TikTok dances to teach Jimmy how it's done, but people -- notably The View's Sunny Hostin -- took issue with the fact it appeared the moves were hers, when they were not.

Addison tells us this was definitely not her intention, and that proper attribution was given on the YouTube video ... just not during the show.

Rory McIlroy -- one of Tiger Woods' best friends on the PGA Tour -- says Tiger is "doing better" after his horrific car crash ... and could be discharged from the hospital in the next week or so.

McIlroy made the revelation on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Tuesday ... saying he's spoken with Tiger since the 45-year-old was seriously injured in a rollover crash on Feb. 23 -- and is getting positive news from the golf legend.

"He's doing better," Rory told Fallon ... "Hopefully if things go well over the next week or so he might be able to get home and start recovery at home."

It'd be great news for Woods ... Tiger's right leg was severely broken in the accident -- requiring multiple procedures to fix the issues since.

McIlroy, though, said Woods has been in good spirits during his recovery ... even sending Rory encouragement -- and even some friendly trash talk -- over his performance at this past weekend's Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida.

"Even from the hospital bed," McIlroy said with a smile, "he's still giving me some heat."

Tiger has not spoken publicly since Feb. 28 -- when he thanked the pro golfers, including McIlory, who paid homage to him by wearing red and black during their rounds.

Here's Dave Chappelle hanging with David Letterman in Chappelle's hometown for what looks like a new episode of Letterman's show ... and possibly for one of Dave's socially-distanced comedy shows.

The two comedy giants shared a laugh and a cup of coffee Wednesday in Yellow Springs, Ohio, sitting on a bench outside Dark Star Books and Comics. You don't see this every day.

Chappelle and Letterman, who had a Chappelle-branded face mask hanging off his ear, were followed by a big camera crew -- which seems to indicate they're shooting an episode of Letterman's interview show, "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction."

However, Chappelle's been doing socially-distanced comedy -- which he's dubbed 'Chappelle Summer Camp' -- and Letterman popped up there too. It's unclear if Letterman actually did a little standup.

Chris Rock's already flown in for one of Chappelle's shows, which have featured Jon Stewart, Jon Hamm, Tiffany Haddish, Michael Che, Erykah Badu, Common, Donnell Rawlings, Talib Kweli and Michelle Wolf.

In any event, whatever Chappelle and Letterman are cooking up, it's sure to be funny!!!

It's officially open season on Jussie Smollett ... and Tracy Morgan is picking up where Chris Rock left off -- ripping the "Empire" star for a barely believable story about the alleged racist attack.

Tracy opened a fresh can of Jussie jokes ... saying he knew it was BS all along because "racist people don't be jumping nobody in a polar vortex." As he put it during his "Tonight Show" appearance ... there's no need to freeze your ass off when you can be racist in the spring!!!

He's also got beef with Smollett's Subway sandwich ... watch for his punchline.

The bust-on-Jussie train started rolling down the tracks Saturday night at the NAACP Image Awards, where Rock unloaded with the simple line ... "What a waste of light skin!!! You know what I could do with that light skin? I'd be f**king running Hollywood!"

Smollett walked on the 16 felony counts, but it's obvious comedians ain't gonna be as kind as Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx.

Michael Carbonaro might need to pull a rabbit out of his hat -- or from behind the counter -- 'cause he's heading to trial for allegedly screwing over the lady who created the idea for his hit TV magic show.

Carbonaro was sued in 2015 by producer Beth Einhorn, when she claimed he'd broken a verbal agreement that she says they struck in 2012, to create a show based on the popular 'Tonight Show' skit called "Magic Clerk" ... which she wrote and he starred in.

Best of Magic Clerk from Trickster Productions on Vimeo.

Einhorn claims she and Carbonaro entered into a 50/50 verbal contract to produce a spin-off series based on "Magic Clerk," which she says they called "TrickShow." It would've been similar in premise -- a hidden camera show where in-store hijinks fool customers.

Fast-forward to 2014 ... Einhorn says she discovered Michael suddenly had his own show, "The Carbonaro Effect" ... which Beth says is an exact duplicate of what they allegedly agreed to produce together. Einhorn claims Carbonaro peddled the show as his own thing ... without crediting or paying her a dime.

'TCE' went on to be a huge hit on truTV, and now the 2015 lawsuit is heading to a jury trial, which starts Wednesday.

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's Charles Barkley admitting he hasn't worn a pair of undies since 2008 ... AND NOT REGRETTING IT AT ALL!!!

"I've been 10 years without underwear," Chuck shamelessly said to Jimmy Fallon on Thursday's episode of the 'Tonight Show.'

"And, I feel good about it, Jimmy," he exclaimed!

The question was raised by Barkley's pal and "Inside the NBA" cohost Shaquille O'Neal -- who wanted to confirm a rumor he heard about Chuck's fashion choices below the waist.

The Round Mound of Rebound wasn't shy -- and explained:

"I thought they were unnecessary for space in the house. So, I gathered all my drawers together and had a big ole bonfire."

FYI ... Chuck's packin' a 6-foot-6, 252-pound (ish) frame into those underwear-less pants ... AND the dude lives in freakin' ARIZONA!!!!

You better come correct if you challenge Jimmy Fallon to a rap battle ... 'cause Jimmy just put one of Post Malone's artists in a body bag.

The 'Tonight Show' host wasn't playing around when he went rhyme-for-rhyme with Post's upcoming artist, Tyla Yaweh ... hitting him where it hurts with no regard for human life.

It all went down at Paddy Reilly's Music Bar in NYC after Post's appearance on the 'Tonight Show', and ya gotta watch the video ... Jimmy GOES IN, Tyla flops hard and Post bows down.

Ariana Grande did something she did not want to do today, but powered through in honor of Aretha Franklin and then broke down in tears.

Production sources tell us Ariana was scheduled to appear on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" Thursday ... but she was only going to do a comedy skit. She was not going to sing.

When she arrived on set, producers asked her if she would perform an Aretha song in honor of the late singer. Ariana told them she couldn't do it ... she was just too emotional in the wake of her death. She said Aretha was one of her heroes.

We're told Questlove then approached Ariana and convinced her it would be awesome for her to perform an Aretha song with the Roots.

Ariana changed her mind and opened the show with 'Natural Woman.' It's the first thing you'll see if you watch the show. Ariana brought the house down and got a standing O.

We're told when Ariana left the stage she broke down in tears.

Jimmy Fallon took one of his most popular late night games out of the studio and tried it live in the Hamptons -- and it was just as entertaining with way more booze ... we think.

The 'Tonight Show' host was hanging with his wife, Nancy Juvonen, Friday night at The Palm East Hampton, when he decided to belt out some Guns N' Roses to one lucky patron ... while everyone else in the place was watching and cheering.

Pete Davidson is clearly over the moon to be engaged to Ariana Grande -- and he let Jimmy Fallon know it.

Davidson was on 'The Tonight Show' Wednesday and was asked straight-up about his engagement. Pete held nothing back, saying "it's f***in' lit."

It's the first time either Pete or Ariana has spoken publicly about their engagement ... and, given the way Pete opened up, we're guessing it won't be the last.

Christina Aguilera and Jimmy Fallon tried going incognito (keyword: tried) during a surprise show for a throng of fans.

Christina and Jimmy showed up in costumes at an NYC subway terminal Wednesday and filmed their surprise performance for a 'Tonight Show' episode slated to air Thursday night. The pair teamed up for a couple tunes ... including George Michael's "Freedom! '90" and her 2002 hit, "Fighter."

Jimmy Fallon gave a heartfelt commencement speech to the graduating glass at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School -- which paid tribute to the trauma they endured this year.

The 'Tonight Show' host made a surprise appearance Sunday at MSDHS's graduation ceremony at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida to make his remarks as the keynote speaker. While funny in its own right, Jimmy kept his address a bit more on the serious side.

He honored the students who spearheaded the March for Our Lives rally earlier this year, in response to the shooting massacre at the school ... which left 17 people dead, allegedly at the hands of Nikolas Cruz. Fallon himself attended the rally, and has been a vocal supporter of their cause.

Toward the end of his speech, Jimmy notes that most commencement speakers will talk in the future tense when addressing a graduating class ... but says he wouldn't do that, because the kids of Marjory Stoneman Douglas are "the present."

As you might imagine, he got a big round of applause for that one.

Jay Leno might be 68 years old, but he's driving like he's 25 in spirit ... and maybe about 90 or so on the road.

The former 'Tonight Show' host was spotted revving up on the I-5 freeway in Burbank, CA Sunday in what appears to be a 1930s-inspired whip. We're not car experts, so don't quote us ... but it kinda looks like a classic '70s era Clénet -- maybe even a 1950 Bentley.

Eyewitnesses tell us Jay was driving about 55 mph in the right-most lane, flashing the peace sign at cars passing him ... and letting the wind have its way with his hair. We're told the car even backfired while he was cruising ... yeah, you know it's an oldie!

There were no other cars or cameras tailing him, so this doesn't seem to have been filmed for his series "Jay Leno's Garage," where he talks shop and tests rides like this all the time.

Two white cameramen who are suing NBC -- claiming the network is racist -- allege the network has a pattern of protecting itself and sweeping misconduct under the rug ... and they are pointing to the Tom Brokaw and Matt Lauer cases.

Kurt Decker and Michael Cimino were cameramen on 'The Tonight Show' with Jimmy Fallon, until they got fired for receiving racist text messages from a 'Tonight Show' stagehand. They claim they were singled out by Questlove, the band leader, who protected a black NBC employee who also received the text message, but allegedly told NBC bigwigs to fire the 2 white cameramen. The 2 were fired for not reporting the text messages to their bosses.

They say in new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, there's a culture at the network to cover up misdeeds of some. They raise the Tom Brokaw case where a former NBC correspondent accused him of sexual harassment. Scores of women, many of whom work at NBC, came out in a public show of support.

Decker and Cimino say many of the women were pressured by the network to sign the petition supporting Brokaw. They add the letter was being circulated at the NBC offices and the women feared retaliation if they didn't sign.

They also raise the Matt Lauer case, where they say many employees knew Lauer was a serial sexual harasser, but never reported it. Decker and Cimino say none of those employees were disciplined.

Takeoff & Quavo watch out ... Offset might've found a new companion to kill stages with, 'cause him and Ric Flair totally pinned the whole 'Tonight Show' crowd with a performance of "Ric Flair Drip."

Offset kicked off the proceedings, strutting his way through the first verse before Flair came out and drove the crowd wild, showing that at 69 (lol) he can still style and profile with the best of them.

We're not sure how far Offset and Ric will take this whole thing -- remember, they already dropped an epic video for the song together -- but the robes match, the swag matches and the struts are identical.