Jimmy Fallon’s head writer Rebecca Drysdale parts with position on The Tonight Show … and says show’s stream of material about Donald Trump ‘only adds to his’ power and profile
- Drysdale explained via her private Facebook that she came to a mutual agreement with producers of the NBC franchise
- She said show’s ongoing stream of material about President Donald Trump ‘only adds to his’ power and profile
- She noted that she will never work on any material about Trump again
- Fallon inked a deal that keeps him as host through the end of next year
Rebecca Drysdale is parting from her position of head writer of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon after six months in the high-profile job.
Drysdale explained via her private Facebook that she came to a mutual agreement with producers of the NBC franchise to leave the show, according to Deadline.
‘They made it clear that I was not a good fit for the show, and I did not disagree,’ Drysdale said. ‘I wish it had gone differently and I had been able to be what they needed but that is not how it shook out.’
The latest: Rebecca Drysdale is parting from her position of head writer of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon after six months in the high-profile job
Drysdale brought up politics in her social media post, saying that the show’s ongoing stream of material about President Donald Trump ‘only adds to his’ power and profile.
She said, ‘I believe that comedy is a powerful tool I believe that it can handle anything, no matter how unfunny. I don’t believe that making fun of this man, doing impressions of him, or making him silly, is a good use of that power. It only adds to his.’
She noted that she will never work on any material about Trump again, as she said that talk about the 45th president in the writer’s room has led to major dissension among her colleagues.
‘I am making the decision for myself to never work on, write, or be involved with, another Trump sketch ever again,’ Drysdale said on the social media page.
A look back: Fallon came under fire after a lighthearted segment with Trump during his 2016 campaign
Drysdale said that the show’s ongoing stream of material about President Donald Trump about ‘only adds to his’ power and profile
She continued: ‘I have landed in several jobs and situations over the last few years, not just The Tonight Show, where the project of making fun of Trump, or doing material about Trump, has led to divided creative teams, anxiety, tears and pain.
‘I can’t decide the outcome of this election, but I can make the choice for myself, to vote him out of my creative life.’
Drysdale’s announcement comes at a time of many personnel decisions at the venerated late night franchise: Fallon recently inked a deal that keeps him in the chair through the end of next year, while Jamie Granet-Bederman took over showrunner duties from Gavin Purcell, Deadline reported.
Drysdale, who began her stint April 13, has previously penned comedy for Key and Peele, All That With Keenan Thompson and HBO’s High Maintenance.
She has also done work as an actress, with appearances on shows including 30 Rock, Arrested Development and Orange Is the New Black.