A not-so "Late Night" with Jimmy Fallon

Back from my year-end, 13-day vaca, I'm looking forward to starting off '09 with a laugh.The stars aligned to avert the ticket tragedy that befell me when I found out that Saugerties native Jimmy Fallon was coming to Banana's Comedy Club here in Poughkeepsie this weekend. As such, I finally got the correct tickets for this weekend's show.

Just a short recap: Jimmy graduated from Saugerties High School in the early '90s. (This is actually one of his Saugerties HS yearbooks pictures). He went on to win an amateur comedy competition at this very same Banana's in Poughkeepsie, launching his career — one that's taken him to national television and the big screen, and which is about to hit a new high later this year.

A cast member of "Saturday Night Live" for several years, he moved on to movies like "Fever Pitch" (seen above), in which he got to kiss co-star Drew Barrymore. (Lucky guy! Drew is so cute!) This spring, Jimmy is scheduled to take over for Conan O'Brien as the new host of "Late Night" on NBC. Hence, seeing him this weekend in our own back yard (his, too!), not to mention for just $25, is a real treat.

For more information on Fallon and his rise from Ulster County to the big time, you can read colleague John Barry's story in today's Poughkeepsie Journal. Big thanks have to go out to Vera and the rest of the crew at Banana's for bringing such a big star to our fair town. Additionally, they were more than helpful when that entire ticket fiasco happened.

Headed to the show? Hit me up at journalsean@aol.com and let me know what you thought of Jimmy's performance!