and the new host of Late Night (NBC) will be... ....... Jimmy Fallon

[underpants]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352397,00.html

Jimmy Fallon Cinches Conan's Job

The word is out among the NBC brass: As rumored and bounced around for some time, Jimmy Fallon is set to take Conan O’Brien’s job as host of "Late Night" in 2009. It’s a done deal.

Conan, of course, will be taking over for Jay Leno, who will leave the "Tonight" show in May 2009 as part of a forced retirement.

There’s much debate about letting Leno leave NBC etc. but right now let’s just concentrate on Jimmy. He’s the perfect successor to Conan and should have just as big an audience when he takes the reins. Fallon is one of those great underrated performers. This should be the right milieu for him.

I’m told NBC will make the formal announcement about Fallon around May 11 or 12, when the network presents the fall '08 schedule to advertisers here in New York.

[mitchum]

1. Further proof that there is no justice

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Leno is being forced into retirement? Is it because he sucks? I hope that's why.

That would be the funniest thing ever! Leno getting the boot because he sucks.

Took 'em long enough to figure that out, though.

Conan is much more in the Johnny Carson mold than Leno could ever hope to be.

[underpants]

3. I've tried Conan

and never really got it. From time to time I hear about or see something that really works (Big bowl of tolerance) but for the most part it seems like it was funny in the writing room and I see where they are going with it but it just doesn't pay off.

:shrug:

Conan seems like a nice enough guy. I don't know.

Dave should have had the show. I am a huge Dave fan.

[Deep13]

7. I thought he used to be really funny...

...like ten years ago.

[zanne]

11. Conan was moderately funny when he had Andy as a sidekick. nt

[DS1]

12. I think he's a hell of a lot funnier than Letterman and Leno

Letterman should just retire, he's been phoning it in for years. Leno is just awful, I hate the "Mr. Nice Guy" act with comedians.

[zanne]

13. Conan has his moments...

But sometimes he reminds me of a gun who laughs at his own jokes.

[zanne]

15. I like Dave, too, but I suspect that he's harder to get along with.

He's had well-publicized fights with management. I always thought that's what kept him from getting Carson's show to begin with.

[underpants]

19. HBO had a great movie about this 10 years ago

"Late night wars" or something like that

Supposedly it was pretty accurate.

Basically what happened was the NBC got ownership of the show back after Carson reitred. Leno's manager at the time strongarmed them (as she was paid to do) to hire Leno or HE would go to ABC or CBS. The suits at NBC fell for it/used it as an excuse. Carson wanted Dave the whole time and was none too pleased how it turned out.

[zanne]

23. Interesting. nt

[CBGLuthier]

8. I think mostly

They want to avoid the cluster-fuck that happened when they forced Carson out and then lost Letterman.

I wouldn't know how much Jay sucks as I never, ever have watched him.

[driver8]

9. Leno isn't getting the boot because he sucks...believe me.

My best friend is a writer on the Tonight Show -- The Tonight Show with Leno has been kicking ass ratings-wise. The Tonight Show, in terms of money making, is a huge success.

My friend thinks that they promised the Tonight Show job to Conan to keep him happy so he wouldn't jump ship. Personally, I don't think Conan will do that well in that time slot, but that's just me.

Jay has already been offered a couple of new shows. However, there is a stipulation in his contract that says he cannot start a new show until 6 months after the Tonight Show ends.

The Tonight Show has made a shit load of money since Jay took over. I think NBC is going to regret the decision to let him go. His show is a bit bland and "safe", but people are watching him and that is all that matters.

[underpants]

18. Right-it has won the ratings fight hands down

and ratings = money

Dave was the cornerstone that CBS rebuilt around (with CSI and Survivor taking them across the goal line) when Dave went to CBS they were no where in ratings (Raymond helped too-that was Dave's production company)

[BuddhaGirl]

34. I think Dave is WAY funnier than Leno

unfortunately "bland and safe" appeals to most Americans, thus the higher ratings for Leno.

[DS1]

4. Okay. That's it. I'm just going to start sucking at everything I do.

I should be rolling in cash within 2 years.


What was I saying? :confoosed:

[underpants]

5. I've never understood the Fallon thing

I simply have never seen him be anything other than a place holder

He was on SNL in one of its pathetically horrible periods so I guess he and Will Ferrell win by just standing there while it all fell around them. I like Ferrel BTW.

Fallon is just ....bleh!


He must be really charming in person or execs just see that they can promote anything and make it poplular.

[DS1]

6. He's useless

SNL didn't fall down around him, he was the main comet that crashed into Rockefeller Center.

[TheMightyFavog]

30. Agreed. Worst. Weekend Update anchor. Ever.

The only reason he got the WU anchor role was a pretty boy who all the Teenyboppers were gaga over at the time.

I don't see how Tina Fey ever got through that stint without Decking that assclown.

[quip]

14. He has a very unassuming manner about him; an honesty that people pick up on.

For example, in sketches, he rarely could keep a straight face. We knew that he knew that it was all nonsense and BS, and it all boiled down to Horatio Sanz just ad libbing to crack Fallon up.

Further, I attribute the bedhead hairdoo look for men that has swept our nation to him. That's a very bad thing, of course, but it shows his influence.

[Phillycat]

16. He was on my list of 5 for awhile.

[DS1]

20. 5 what?

Is this a good list or a bad list?

[Phillycat]

21. You know, the 5 people you're allowed to Get With even when you're

in a relationship.

[underpants]

24. How many people must die for me to get within the 5?

oh its a GOOD list

:P

[peekaloo]

10. Jerry Van Dyke for the 21st Century.

[mitchum]

22. LMAO!!!

that's perfect :)

[enigmatic]

25. Spot-on

:thumbsup:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

36. nailed it

wo0t

[Rob H.]

17. I'm always reminded of The Onion and 'Family Guy'

when I hear his name, The Onion for their 2004 headline Jimmy Fallon Six Tantalizing Months From Disappearing Forever after he left SNL and on 'Family Guy' Peter beat the crap out of him for his bad acting ("And this is for always looking at the camera!" *whack*).

Looks like not only did they scrape the bottom of the barrel, they turned it over and dug underneath it.

Edit: Oops! Shpelling.

[LisaM]

26. I can't imagine Conan in Hollywood, where I presume they'll move him

I've always preferred the New York-based shows to the Hollywood ones. For one thing, they get better guests - Broadway stars, writers, etc., while the Hollywood shows just get movie actors doing promotions.

[geardaddy]

27. Fallon is on my "most annoying people" list.

I can't stand that guy.

[Fox Mulder]

28. Man, Leno is funnier than both Conan and Fallon put together.

Now NBC late night is really going to suck.

[Fox Mulder]

29. Delete

Pushed the button twice.

[applegrove]

31. I look forward to that.

[Lil Missy]

32. I'm glad to hear Leno will be gone.

I've always refused to watch his show because Letterman was so screwed over that deal.

[Connonym]

33. yay! That should help Craig Ferguson's numbers

[ellisonz]

35. Craig Ferguson rules!

:o

[kwassa]

37. Who watches any of these when they could be watching Steven Colbert?

Same time slot.

I actually find some of Jay's topical political jokes funny, and occasionally watch him.

but I not usually allowed to stay up that late.