The Running Man Challenge hit the point a while ago where it’s totally mainstream and not that cool anymore (this happened right around when Ellen got ahold of it), but the dance craze reached a new high Wednesday, when Carmelo Anthony showed up on the Tonight Show to perform alongside Jimmy Fallon.
Fallon initially feigns indifference to the dance, then busts some exuberant moves over DJ Ghost’s “My Boo.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUvVVQzDFAQ
This is certainly not the best-executed Running Man Challenge we’ve ever seen — Fallon looks like he’s just chugged two Monster energy drinks, while Carmelo doesn’t appear quite ready to commit fully — but the star power is undeniable. Ellen is probably the most famous person to participate in the dance, but Carmelo and Fallon might be second and third.
The Running Man Challenge started with two high-school kids, then gained popularity through Jaylen Brantley and Jared Nickens at the University of Maryland, who one day posted this video on Instagram:
The craze quickly spread to Villanova’s basketball team, then other college hoops outfits, then to college football and the NBA, with Justise Winslow and Eric Bledsoe jumping in.
You can’t help but wonder how much convincing it took to get Carmelo to join in since, you know, he’s not exactly known for his energy and enthusiasm. Maybe it helped that the Knicks’ star’s son is a big Fallon fan, as Carmelo explained in his sit-down with the host.
One thing we’ve learned today: Carmelo Anthony is not a turtle.
