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NBC confirms Jimmy Fallon will take over Tonight Show from Jay Leno NBC confirms Jimmy Fallon will take over Tonight Show from Jay Leno
(6 months later)
One of the biggest and most widely anticipated transitions in American television has been confirmed. Jay Leno, the long-running host of The Tonight Show on NBC, is to be replaced by the younger parvenu, Jimmy Fallon.One of the biggest and most widely anticipated transitions in American television has been confirmed. Jay Leno, the long-running host of The Tonight Show on NBC, is to be replaced by the younger parvenu, Jimmy Fallon.
The succession plan was much trailed but fraught with questions of how and when the network could pull it off without damaging the show's brand.The succession plan was much trailed but fraught with questions of how and when the network could pull it off without damaging the show's brand.
"Clearly our goal has been to make this a smooth transition," NBC chief executive Steve Burke told the New York Times."Clearly our goal has been to make this a smooth transition," NBC chief executive Steve Burke told the New York Times.
Leno endorsed the plan himself on Wednesday, after performing in a skit on Monday night with Fallon, poking fun at the rumors.Leno endorsed the plan himself on Wednesday, after performing in a skit on Monday night with Fallon, poking fun at the rumors.
"I'll live," Leno says in the skit. "I've been through this before, you know. Got to admit I get a little sick of all this.""I'll live," Leno says in the skit. "I've been through this before, you know. Got to admit I get a little sick of all this."
NBC has not managed recent high-profile transitions smoothly. In 2009 the network made an abortive move to replace Leno with Conan O'Brien, a mistake that sent the show tumbling down the ratings and mangled the careers of a whole tier of executives. Last summer, the abrupt departure of Ann Curry from the Today show similarly hurt that show's ratings; it has recently redounded devastatingly on to co-host Matt Lauer.NBC has not managed recent high-profile transitions smoothly. In 2009 the network made an abortive move to replace Leno with Conan O'Brien, a mistake that sent the show tumbling down the ratings and mangled the careers of a whole tier of executives. Last summer, the abrupt departure of Ann Curry from the Today show similarly hurt that show's ratings; it has recently redounded devastatingly on to co-host Matt Lauer.
There appears to be no such potential for controversy attached to the Tonight Show succession plan. The show will relocate from Los Angeles to New York, where it was first produced. Fallon was born in Brooklyn and has spent his career in New York. He broke into the showbiz big time as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. He took over for O'Brien as host of Late Night in 2009.There appears to be no such potential for controversy attached to the Tonight Show succession plan. The show will relocate from Los Angeles to New York, where it was first produced. Fallon was born in Brooklyn and has spent his career in New York. He broke into the showbiz big time as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. He took over for O'Brien as host of Late Night in 2009.
Fallon's arrival at the Tonight Show is part of a shift to a younger face for late night. Last year rival network ABC shifted Jimmy Kimmel, 45, into the prime slot of 11.30pm ET. That would leave David Letterman at CBS as the last of the old guard. Under Leno, The Tonight Show is the top-rated show in its time slot, a fact the host does not neglect to mention in his duet with Fallon. "Tonight, tonight," he sings, "my ratings were all right, 20 years and I'm still in first!"Fallon's arrival at the Tonight Show is part of a shift to a younger face for late night. Last year rival network ABC shifted Jimmy Kimmel, 45, into the prime slot of 11.30pm ET. That would leave David Letterman at CBS as the last of the old guard. Under Leno, The Tonight Show is the top-rated show in its time slot, a fact the host does not neglect to mention in his duet with Fallon. "Tonight, tonight," he sings, "my ratings were all right, 20 years and I'm still in first!"
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