Joan Rivers returns to NBC's 'The Tonight Show' on Jimmy Fallon's first night of hosting after being banned since the 1980s and makes bold statement about Jay Leno's successor

If you missed The Tonight Show last night, you missed one of the most impressive and acclaimed debut from new host Jimmy Fallon. Bring his Late Night energy to the bigger, earlier stage, one segment on the first episode of Fallon's reign included a slew of celebrity cameos dropping off $100 each as payment for saying the SNL alum would never get this gig. One guest in particular, Joan Rivers, showed up, putting an end to her ban from the show since the 1980s!

Though it was brief, Rivers' return to The Tonight Show was a bigger deal than most would know. Rivers was the first permanent guest host of the show back when Johnny Carson hosted, but after moving on to her own show, The Late Show with Joan Rivers, Carson banned her from appearing on the show. Leno kept up this ban, but Fallon saw fit to allow the former Tonight Show personality back onto the show.

"It's about time!" Rivers stated about her return. "I've been sitting in a taxi outside NBC with the meter running since 1987. It was a double thrill for me to help welcome Jimmy on his first night. The program brought me great luck, and I know it will do the same for him.

Rivers also included a bold statement about the new host: "He's the consummate entertainer whose reign as host, I predict, will surpass any of his predecessors."

Check out Rivers' appearance in this little bit, along with Robert De Niro, Tina Fey, Joe Namath, Rudy Giuliani, Mariah Carey, Tracy Morgan, Kim Kardashian, Seth Rogen, Lindsay Lohan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mike Tyson, Lady Gaga, and Stephen Colbert.