Although lots of people, including friend and former “Tonight Show” bandleader Branford Marsalis, questioned their sanity for signing on as Fallon’s house band, the group told the Associated Press the move saved their bacon.

“‘Initially I was a little leery,’ said the Roots’ MC, Tariq Trotter, or Black Thought. ‘I initially was thinking, ‘Is this just going to be ammo for some other rapper to try to dis me for?’ Like, ‘Your career is over now / You’re a house band for…’ You have to be that many steps ahead of whatever move you’re going to make.’

“‘The idea gradually sunk in, though,’ Black Thought says, ‘the further we were sinking into the economic disaster.’ When the economy went into recession, ticket sales – their chief source of income – started to slow.”

For the past couple of weeks, the band has been meeting the daunting challenge of recording 200 entirely new pieces of music to be used for transitions in and out of segments. Why new music? NBC isn’t paying for any music publishing rights, including The Roots’ own material.

That means for about the next year, every time you’re watching “Late Night,” you’re likely to get the chance to hear new Roots material. And that’s pretty cool.

Read all about The Roots’ plan to raise the bar on late night house bands and how Fallon got them to take the gig here.

Monday, February 23
Fonzworth Bentley, Chris Franjola, John Caparulo, Jen Kirkman – “Chelsea Lately”
Chris Cornell – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos”
Akon – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” – rerun
Nikka Costa – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” – rerun
Jonas Brothers, Darius Rucker – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Trace Adkins – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” – rerun
LMFAO – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun

Tuesday, February 24
Tom Jones – “The View”
Quincy Jones, Enrique Iglesias – “Live with Regis and Kelly” – rerun
Raphael Saadiq – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Esperanza Spalding – “The Tavis Smiley Show”
Jo Koy, George Wallace – “Chelsea Lately”
Mel B – “The Bonnie Hunt Show”
Ricky Gervais – “The Daily Show”
Steve Martin – “Late Night with David Letterman” – rerun
Will.i.am – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” – rerun
The Black Crowes – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” – rerun
Don Rickles, Ben Sollee – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Adele – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” – rerun
Ida Maria – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun

Wednesday, February 25
Jeff Foxworthy, Labelle – “The View”
Kara Dioguardi – “Live with Regis and Kelly” – rerun
Bill Maher – “The Tavis Smiley Show”
Jo Koy, Kirk Fox – “Chelsea Lately” – rerun
Jamey Johnson – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” – rerun
Artie Lange, Conor Oberst – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” – rerun
Living Things – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Wanda Sykes, Glasvegas – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” – rerun
Company of Thieves – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun

Thursday, February 26
3 Doors Down – “Live with Regis and Kelly”
Shirley Manson, Brad Wollack, Michelle Biloon – “Chelsea Lately”
Colin Mochrie – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos”
Anthony Hamilton – “Late Show with David Letterman” – rerun
Ty Barnett – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” – rerun
Boz Scaggs – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” – rerun
Kris Kristofferson – “The Colbert Report”
Nick DiPaolo – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Glen Campbell – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” – rerun
Yelle – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun

Friday, February 27
Fall Out Boy – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Rosie O’Donnell – “The Bonnie Hunt Show”
Randy Rogers Band – “Late Show with David Letterman” – rerun
Jimmy Fallon, Lee Ann Womack – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” – rerun
The Gaslight Anthem – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” – rerun
Robin Thicke – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” – rerun
Rosie O’Donnell, The Knux – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” – rerun
Jeff Dunham, Razorlight – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun

Saturday, February 28
John Mayer – “Austin City Limits” – rerun
Taylor Swift – “Saturday Night Live” – rerun