Jimmy Fallon returned to Upstate New York over the weekend for some early St. Patrick's Day fun.
"The Tonight Show" host and former "Saturday Night Live" star appeared at Mulconry's Irish Pub and Restaurant in Fairport for a surprise performance on Saturday night. WROC reports he happily sang songs with the crowd, including a duet of "Creep" by Radiohead with local musician Sam Nitsch.
"Oh man. It was an absolutely unreal experience! I was actually watching him on the 'SNL' 50th anniversary special the night before and to go from that to singing Radiohead on stage with him the next day is something that's going to take a while to process," Nitsch told the Rochester TV station. "Jimmy genuinely seemed like someone who gets a lot of joy from uplifting the community. It's definitely a story I'll be telling for the rest of my life."
Fallon is a longtime friend of Fairport resident Damien Mulconry, who owns Mulconry's. They met more than 20 years ago when Mulconry moved from Ireland to New York City and worked as a bartender at The Gaf West, one of Fallon's favorite NYC bars.
"I come here once, twice a year," Fallon told WHEC on Saturday. "I love the people here. It's super fun."
Fallon frequently appears in Upstate New York during the month of March, including at Mulconry's in 2018 to help the Irish pub celebrate its 10th anniversary. He's also performed at the nearby Iron Smoke Distillery, partied with college students in Albany, and appeared at Shaughnessy's Irish Pub in Syracuse with fellow comedian Nate Bargatze last year.
Fallon, who took photos and talked with fans during Saturday's visit, told WHEC that he typically comes around St. Paddy's Day but moved his trip up this year to avoid becoming predictable.
Fallon, who was a cast member on "SNL" from 1998 to 2004, has hosted "The Tonight Show" since 2014. He grew up in Saugerties, and often shouts out his Upstate NY roots on TV, cheering on Syracuse basketball and referencing locations like Oneonta in late-night skits. Fallon is also known for his musical talents, often performing songs with The Roots and celebrity guests.