14 DAY TRIAL // Jimmy Fallon will be taking over from Jay Leno on The Tonight Show in the immediate future, with NBC already deciding that the show will move back to New York, the New York Times reports.
Rumors about Leno’s departure have been making the rounds for some time now, but they picked up considerably in recent weeks.
Several network executives have already confirmed the move for the publication but, as of now, the deal is not done just yet.
“The network has made a commitment to Mr. Fallon, the current host of its Late Night program, for him to succeed Jay Leno as the next host of Tonight, according to several senior television executives involved in the decision. As part of the agreement, the show would move from Burbank, Calif., back to New York, where it started in 1954 with Steve Allen as host,” the NYT writes.
Fallon is yet to sign on the dotted line, but that part of the deal is a mere “formality,” the publication writes, since he’d be a fool not to accept the offer.
“The network has not settled on an exact timetable for the switch, though it is expected to take place by fall 2014 at the latest, said the executives, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because discussions were still continuing,” the NYT says.
Talk that Leno was on his way out was pretty much just a rumor until now but, with the NYT throwing its weight against the story, it just got more credibility.