In a move that a critic warned would “spark late-night chaos,” NBC announced that Jay Leno would leave his spot on The Tonight Show on May 29, 2009.  On June 1, The Late Show host Conan O'Brien would take over his spot.  Previously, O'Brien was promised by NBC that he would soon be moved to the earlier spot once Leno retires for fear of losing him to another network.  This, of course, is all grounded on the fact that NBC has historically had the lion's share of ratings during this time slot, rendering the slightest move consequential.

Jimmy Fallon is not worried.  The Saturday Night Live alum will take the spot to be vacated by O'Brien next year.  At the same time, Saturday Night Live long-time producer Michael Shoemaker will reportedly oversee production on the upcoming Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, after being with Saturday Night Live for 20 years.  The two had worked together with SNL, the same show responsible for introducing O'Brien to the world.

Fallon, 33, left SNL in 2004 to pursue a career in the movies.  He started with the legendary sketch show in 1998 as a featured player, eventually promoted to full time cast member the following year.  One of his more famous roles include co-anchoring Weekend Update with Tina Fey.

According to MSNBC's Stuart Levine, while Fallon's SNL experience will surely help, hosting a full-blown talk show is quite different from it.

“While Fallon was a terrific Weekend Update host on Saturday Night Live, there's no telling how he'll will come across as a talk-show host.  NBC is counting on the same magic that worked with O'Brien — a virtual unknown before landing his Late Night gig — will rub off on Fallon.”

Meanwhile, the so-called greatest Olympian of all time Michael Phelps will host the premiere of SNL's 34th season when it airs on September 13.


-Glenn L. Diaz, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Media Post, MSNBC
(Image Courtesy of People)