You’ll definitely be back for more from the comedy duo of Jimmy Fallon and Lin-Manuel Miranda after you’ve heard Fallon improv various rock stars’ rendition of a hit from musical theater phenomenon Hamilton.
The king of late-night joined the king of Broadway this week for a digital version of #Ham4Ham, the popular Hamilton pre-show performances centered around the musical’s daily ticket lottery.
Fallon and Miranda hammed it up as Miranda lip-synced in honor of Fallon’s hit lip-sync battles, then suggested a litany of famed rockers for Fallon to improv. Fallon sang the popular Hamilton tune “You’ll Be Back” in the style of everyone from David Bowie to Dave Matthews, and the results were just as hilarious as you’d expect. (For comparison, here’s how it’s supposed to sound, as sung by Frozen‘s Jonathan Groff.) Who knew Rufus Wainwright made such an appropriately whiny George III?
The Hamilton lottery, which takes place outside the Richard Rodgers Theatre on 46th St., attempted to move online earlier this month, but triggered an Internet meltdown when more than 50,000 eager Hamilton fans attempted to sign up on the first day.
Instead, the physical lottery stayed offline while the pre-show performances moved online, with Miranda beginning a special series of digital #Ham4Hams. So far, he’s featured legendary Broadway composer Alan Menken, his elementary school in a tribute to Martin Luther King, and today’s guest appearance by Fallon—and apparently a delighted Questlove:
That's @questlove screaming! https://t.co/KBOm9LhYPg
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 20, 2016
Fallon has long been an ardent Hamilton fan and we’ve been waiting for this collaboration. In November, Miranda showed off his freestyling genius on The Tonight Show; it was only fitting Fallon return the favor.
All this love means we have no idea where Miranda’s digital #Ham4Hams will go from here. It’ll be hard to top this duo (Sondheim, anyone?)—but we can’t wait to see Miranda try.
Screengrab via Hamilton/YouTube