Everyone has that one celebrity impression they do in the shower. For Jimmy Fallon, it was a hyper-animated, pouting, strutting version of Mick Jagger. But most people don’t get to do their impression while staring into the actual eyes of the rock legend himself.
The SNL Mick Jagger Jimmy Fallon mirror sketch is a weird piece of TV history. It almost didn't happen. Honestly, if Lorne Michaels had his way, it wouldn't have.
The Pitch That Wouldn't Die
It was December 2001. New York was still reeling from 9/11, and Saturday Night Live was trying to find its footing in a heavy world. Mick Jagger was the musical guest, and Hugh Jackman was hosting. Fallon, then just a young cast member known for "breaking" and his musical parodies, was desperate to get a sketch on air with the Stones frontman.
Lorne Michaels, the show's creator, was skeptical. He told Fallon point-blank: "Please don’t do that. That sketch has been done a million times. Groucho Marx did it, Lucille Ball did it." Lorne wasn't wrong. The "mirror gag"—where two people mimic each other’s movements—is one of the oldest tropes in vaudeville.
But Fallon wouldn't let it go. He spent twenty minutes pitching Jagger alternative ideas. One involved them working at a Sunglass Hut together. Another had Jagger playing a clone of Keith Richards so Keith could party with himself.
Jagger’s response? A very polite, British "No, thank you."
🔗 Read more: Shamea Morton and the Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Really Happened to Her Peach
Finally, sweating and out of options, Fallon circled back to the mirror. Jagger lit up. "Hey, that’s a funny idea. I like that." When a rock god says yes, even Lorne Michaels tends to step aside.
Why the Sketch Actually Worked
They wrote it on a Friday night. That's incredibly late for SNL, where the "big" sketches are usually locked in by Wednesday. The premise was simple: Mick Jagger is backstage in his dressing room, getting ready for the show, and talks to his reflection. Fallon, dressed in an identical purple shirt and wig, plays the reflection.
The Dynamics
- The Look: Fallon’s impression is loud. It’s all lips, pointed fingers, and that "rooster" walk.
- The Self-Deprecation: Jagger was willing to mock his own aging process.
- The "Rooster" Move: There’s a moment where they both do a synchronized strut that perfectly captures the absurdity of rock stardom.
It wasn't just about the mimicry. It was the meta-commentary. At one point, Jagger (as himself) tells his reflection, "Don't do what you've done... just do what you do." It was a nod to the fact that the Rolling Stones have been playing the hits for decades.
The sketch "destroyed" during dress rehearsal. By the time the live show aired on December 8, 2001, the chemistry was undeniable. You can see Jagger genuinely grinning at Fallon’s absurdity. It’s rare to see a legend that high up the food chain be that "game."
More Than Just One Sketch
While the mirror bit is the one everyone remembers, the relationship between SNL Mick Jagger Jimmy Fallon didn't end in 2001. They’ve crossed paths multiple times since, usually with Fallon playing the younger, more caffeinated version of the rock star.
💡 You might also like: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
In 2012, when Jagger hosted the season finale, Fallon returned to help send off Kristen Wiig. But the real "full circle" moment happened much later on The Tonight Show. Jagger appeared in a "Freezer Secrets" segment where they got trapped in a soundproof room.
They also worked together for the Hackney Diamonds album promos in 2023. Critics sometimes roll their eyes at Fallon's "fanboy" energy, but Jagger seems to find it endearing. It’s a specific kind of synergy—the elder statesman of rock and the kid who grew up worshiping him.
The Legacy of the Impression
Fallon’s Jagger isn't exactly "accurate." It’s a caricature. It’s what a teenager thinks Mick Jagger looks like after watching three minutes of the "Start Me Up" video.
But that’s why it works for SNL. Impressions on that show aren't meant to be The Crown; they’re meant to be cartoons. Fallon captured the energy of Jagger—the constant motion, the pouted lips, the "mate" and "all right" sprinkled through every sentence.
Interestingly, Jagger had parodied his own bandmates before. In 1993, he played Keith Richards on Weekend Update while Mike Myers played Jagger. He knows how to take the piss out of the Stones' image.
📖 Related: Priyanka Chopra Latest Movies: Why Her 2026 Slate Is Riskier Than You Think
What We Can Learn From the Mirror
There's a lesson in that 2001 sketch for anyone in a creative field. Sometimes the "done to death" idea is the right one if the casting is perfect. Lorne was right—the mirror gag was old. But it had never been done with Mick Jagger.
The success of the sketch paved the way for more "double" impressions on the show, like when Andy Samberg did "The Getaway" with Nicolas Cage. It proved that audiences love seeing a celebrity face their own public persona.
Key Takeaways for Fans
- Watch the 2001 episode: It’s Season 27, Episode 8. It’s a time capsule of a very specific era in New York history.
- Look for the "break": Fallon is famous for laughing during sketches, but Jagger stays remarkably composed, which makes the whole thing funnier.
- Appreciate the "Rooster": That specific dance move became a staple of Fallon's repertoire for years.
If you want to see the evolution of this comedic partnership, check out the Hackney Diamonds launch interview. You can see the genuine comfort between the two. Jagger isn't just a guest; he's a collaborator who clearly remembers the night a nervous kid pitched him a "stale" idea and made it a classic.
To see the original sketch in its best quality, you can find it on the official SNL YouTube channel or Peacock. It’s worth a rewatch just to see the moment Fallon realizes he’s actually pulling it off.
Next Steps:
Go watch the original 2001 mirror sketch on Peacock to see the timing for yourself. Then, compare it to the 1993 Weekend Update where Jagger plays Keith Richards—it’s a fascinating look at how the singer views himself versus how the world views him.