News > Fallon Officially Replacing O'Brien
April 28, 2008
Written by David Morgan
Ever since 2004, when it was announced that Conan O'Brien would be replacing a retiring Jay Leno as the host of "The Tonight Show" in 2009, speculation has been circulating as to who would step in to replace O'Brien on "Late Night." Some guessed that Carson Daly might get promoted from his 1:35AM time slot, but one of the other front runners has been former "Saturday Night Live" star Jimmy Fallon. Now, according to , word is out that the actor has secured the job. NBC is expected to make an official statement on May 12th during an event in New York, where "Late Night" is filmed.
O'Brien is expected to make the move to the LA-based "Tonight Show" in January of next year. Fallon subbed for a sick David Letterman a few years back, but whether or not he can hold down an hour long show all by himself for four nights a week is yet to be seen. He's certainly got his detractors lined up, but O'Brien certainly had it as bad if not worse when he replaced Letterman back in 1993, and now he's easily the funniest and most likable host on broadcast television. Time will tell. I just hope Conan survives the transition to Los Angeles and Leno's noticeably older demographic.
