NBC announced today what we were all expecting for the past few weeks: Jimmy Fallon is getting an earlier, though much coveted late night time slot. Starting in Spring 2014, he will be the new host of The Tonight Show, replacing Jay Leno, who has been there since 1992.
“I’m really excited to host a show that starts today instead of tomorrow," Fallon said in a statement to the press.
Leno followed Fallon's half-jokey statement with one of this own: “Congratulations, Jimmy. I hope you're as lucky as me and hold on to the job until you're the old guy. If you need me, I'll be at the garage.”
Fallon is obviously no stranger to late night television, having gotten his start on SNL and hosting his own talk show on NBC for the past four years, where he made a name for himself for championing reunions of childhood favorites-- from Saved by the Bell to California Dreams-- and getting his guests to partake in fun songs and games like Beer Pong and "The History of Rap."
The new Tonight Show with Fallon will be hosted from New York City and executive produced by Lorne Michaels, so let's hope they just fit their pop-culture friendly brand for an earlier time, rather than adapt themselves to the more traditional model.
“We are purposefully making this change when Jay is #1, just as Jay replaced Johnny Carson when he was #1. Jimmy Fallon is a unique talent and this is his time. I’m thrilled he will become the sixth host of The Tonight Show at exactly the right moment, in conjunction with our coverage of next year's Winter Olympic Games from Sochi, Russia," Steve Burke, Chief Executive Officer of NBCUniversal said in his own statement to the press.
There is no word yet on whether The Roots will move to The Tonight Show with Fallon, nor who will host the new Late Night show that follows The Tonight Show.
Want more television news? Follow LA TV Insider Examiner on Twitter!
Comments