It was just a matter of time before the suits at NBC decided to officially announce the change. Jimmy Fallon will take over as host of The Tonight Show in 2014. Jay is reported to wrap up hosting the show in the Spring of 2014.
There has been some tension as of late between the network and Jay Leno who has been taking shots at NBC for its poor performance in the ratings,
With Jimmy Kimmel moving up an hour earlier and courting a younger audience, NBC thought it was the right time to make the decision. NBC Universal Chief Executive Officer Steve Burke had this to say:
“Jay Leno is an entertainment icon, making millions of people laugh every weeknight for more than 20 years. His long reign as the highest-rated late-night host is a testament to his work ethic and dedication to his viewers and to NBC. 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.”
(Photo by: James White/NBC)