Watch Fallon, Molly Shannon, and Denis Leary sing famous songs, add nonsensical lyrics

Jimmy Fallon, Molly Shannon, and Denis Leary sing famous songs, add nonsensical lyrics — (Image credit: The Tonight Show)

If you're one of those people who never pays attention to the lyrics, "Nonsense Karaoke" will probably sound much like regular karaoke, except that you're watching Jimmy Fallon and guests Molly Shannon and Denis Leary sing to the pre-recorded backing tracks and you can't join in. If you do pay even a bit of attention, though, Shannon singing "But it's time to legalize the burgers of lunch" to TLC's "Waterfalls" gives you a pretty good sense of how the Tonight Show game is played.

Arguably, Leary's nonsense lyrics to "Pour Some Sugar On Me" are an improvement over Def Leppard's, but either way, since Leary and Shannon are comedians and not professional singers, the format plays to their strengths. Fallon, who can sing and make you laugh, goes for a power ballad. You can watch the goofiness below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.