Jimmy Fallon gets political with 'Mister Romney's Neighborhood'

Jimmy Fallon gets political with ‘Mister Romney’s Neighborhood’

By Meredith Blake

Oct. 10, 2012 12 AM PT

What does Mitt Romney have in common with the late great Mr. Rogers? Aside from a neatly combed coif of salt-and-pepper hair, not much – or so Jimmy Fallon would have us believe.

On Tuesday’s “Late Night,” Fallon unveiled his latest election spoof, a timely take on Romney’s promise to defund PBS. In the sketch, Fallon reimagined the beloved children’s show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” as hosted by the Republican candidate, right down to the smallest detail: Instead of putting on a cozy cardigan, he puts on another blazer; instead of swapping out his loafers for some slip-ons, he gets a shoe shine. It was an unusually charged skit for Fallon, a comedian who usually takes a light touch when it comes to political satire.

“Hello, neighbor,” Fallon-as-Romney greeted his viewers. “You see this? It’s a wallet. Inside of a wallet, that’s where money goes. Do you know what money is? I’m guessing no, because you’re watching public television.”

Fallon explained that money is paper that can be used to buy things you want “like toys and yachts” and that it comes from “a magical place called our parents.”

Elsewhere in the sketch, Fallon also welcome a visitor – President Obama, who at Michelle’s orders, was taking a side job as a mailman as punishment for his poor debate performance.

Then it was on to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe (“That’s where me and Paul Ryan get most of our facts from”) where Fallon harangued a union puppeteer named Bill.

Fallon even put a political spin on Mr. Rogers’ customary words of encouragement.

“Before I go remember, there’s only one person in the world that’s like you and that’s you,” he said as the sketch was winding down. “People can like you exactly the way you are, but if they don’t, then just pretend to be the exact opposite of what you are, then maybe they’ll like you.”

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