Roots’ ‘Fallon’ Intros Need Approval After Bachmann Flap

“They definitely want to know the title of the song,” drummer Questlove says

NBC is making "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" house band The Roots submit their song choices beforehand, following an embarrassing flap that prompted an apology to GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann.

In an interview with the Associated Press, the group's drummer, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson admitted that he's "gotta clear a lot of the song choices" with the network, after playing the Fishbone song "Lyin' Ass Bitch" during Bachmann's appearance.

Also read: NBC Apologizes to Bachmann for The Roots Song Choice

"It's still a comedy show, so they promise not to step on my toes or that type of thing, but they definitely want to know the title of the song, the subject matter of the song, can it be seen as an insult?" Thompson said.

The song is fairly obscure, so most viewers — and Bachmann — didn't recognize it during her appearance. Fallon almost immediately apologized via Twitter, but Bachmann demanded that NBC also apologize. NBC senior vice president Doug Vaughan then said in a letter that the song choice was "not only unfortunate but also unacceptable."

Thompson told the AP that he's accepted the show's new music policy.

"It was kind of wrong for me to throw (NBC) under the bus without telling them what it was, so I understand from a business standpoint," Thompson said.

NBC did not immediately respond to TheWrap's request for comment.
 

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