Go Inside BTS ‘Tonight Show’ Taping, From Fan Jump-Scares to Jimmy Fallon Angling to Be ‘The 8th Member’

Ahead of the episode premiering at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT on NBC tonight, RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook joined Fallon for a taping of The Tonight Show — see a Billboard exclusive preview photo above — and judging by the volume in Studio 8H, the crowd was all ARMY. Instead of emerging from behind the blue velvet curtain like most guests, BTS made their way to the stage from behind the audience, touching fans’ hands on the way down.

In addition to the interview, the crowd also got to watch a pre-recorded bit that showed fans entering a recording booth to sing “SWIM” — the lead single from BTS’ just-released sixth album ARIRANG — but when they exited, Fallon and the members of BTS were all on the other side to surprise (or sometimes terrify) them. The crowd also got to watch BTS’ performance of “SWIM,” taped earlier in the day at NYC art museum The Guggenheim.

Below, find a highlight from each of the seven members before watching the full episode tonight: When Fallon asked if...