When Jimmy Fallon’s team picks 2 “Tonight Show” audience members to write a song in less than an hour, the result is usually impressive.
Last night, it was Ryder Chasin turn. The result was brilliant.
The 2014 Staples High School graduate — sporting a Staples baseball cap, no less — was given his title: “I Bought an Off-Brand Rapid Test.”
You or I might be intimidated. Ryder was confident.
For one thing, he’s a writer at Sesame Workshop. For another, he majored in journalism, and minored in film, media studies and creative non-fiction at Northwestern University.
For a third, he’s used to performing (as a member of the Players drama troupe) and pressure (as a baseball player). He’s also multi-talented: In high school he worked on radio and TV production, and was a Top Hat tutor and National Honor Society student.
Oh, yeah: He’s done improv, too.
Ryder looked completely confident as he joked with Fallon. He sauntered over to the electric organ — not a piano, as he corrected the host — smiled, and belted out a very clever tune.
His hour’s work earned him $1,000. Plus a “Tonight Show” notebook to write more songs in.
And the applause of a grateful audience, which has had far too little to laugh about where COVID is concerned.
Click below for the entire clip:
(Hat tips: Dan Donovan, John McCarthy and Beth Cody)