NBC wants Jimmy Fallon for 'Late Show' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 07-30-2007, 09:35 AM

'SATURDAY Night Live" stalwart Jimmy Fallon is the top candidate to replace Conan O'Brien in 2009 - when O'Brien is set to take over "The Tonight Show" from Jay Leno.

According to a report today in the authoritative trade magazine Broadcasting & Cable, NBC and Fallon are deep in talks to put him in the "Late Show" seat that launched David Letterman.

"I think he'd be terrific, and he is at the top of our short list," NBC late-night chief Rick Ludwin told the magazine.

NBC is hell-bent on solidifying its late-night lineup way in advance.

It apparently does not want a repeat of the Leno-Letterman war that broke out after Johnny Carson announced he was retiring 15 years ago.

To avoid that - and the prospect of losing Conan to a rival network when his last contract expired - it promised him the "Tonight" show job in 2009.

Leno is slated to step down then, though he has not said publicly whether that was his choice or a decision forced on him by NBC.

Fallon would complete the other half of the equation and give the network two years to prepare for the change.

After the "Today" show, "Tonight" is NBC's second-biggest moneymaker.

Fallon quietly signed a holding deal with NBC earlier this year, according to B&C.

NBC talked earlier this year, and only informally, with late-night cable host Jon Stewart about the job. But Stewart is tied to Comedy Central past 2009 and did not express a strong interest in jumping to network TV.

Fallon has a moderate amount of experience in a talk-show setting.

He co-anchored the "SNL" spoof newscast "Weekend Update" for several years with Tina Fey.

Fallon also filled in well for Letterman when Dave was out for several weeks in 2003 recuperating from bypass surgery.

Still up in the air is whether the "Late Show" would stay in New York or move to the West Coast, the mag reported.

In fact, Ludwin says some higher ups in the network would like to see "Tonight" move back to New York, where it began.

Conan's move to California "hasn't been completely nailed down," he told B&C.

In the end, the choice of an "SNL" alum to take over for O'Brien is not all that surprising.

"SNL" creator Lorne Michaels owns a piece of "Late Night" and would be expected to have a say - though not a deciding one - in who got the host's job.

NBC says it expects to nail down Fallon by early next year, in time to announce its full, late-night lineup by this time next summer.

One way or another, late-night TV is headed for a serious shake-up in 2009.

Leno, who will be out of a job, could jump to ABC or even Fox, which has long tried to create a late-night franchise for the network.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07302007...hael_shain.htm

Cactus Jack · 08-09-2007, 10:05 PM

Thatd be AWESOME!

Brian Damage · 08-09-2007, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Thatd be AWESOME!

agreed

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 08-09-2007, 11:49 PM

Seriously, that'd be cool.

PrettyinPink55 · 08-10-2007, 02:48 AM

I like that idea!!!

TJL · 08-10-2007, 05:20 AM

The Tonight Show back in NYC? That would be a pretty neat trick.

I wonder if Jay Leno would jump to another network?

Scoobiedoo30 · 08-10-2007, 01:12 PM

that sounds good Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Adamantium · 08-10-2007, 10:26 PM

Okay, I'll be the Black Sheep of this thread. It's a TERRIBLE idea. I don't find Jimmy Fallon funny or entertaining at all.

Hopefully he'll be too busy with the show that he doesn't make another one of his crappy films again. There's always a silver lining.

07-30-2007, 09:35 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	NBC wants Jimmy Fallon for 'Late Show' 'SATURDAY Night Live" stalwart Jimmy Fallon is the top candidate to replace Conan O'Brien in 2009 - when O'Brien is set to take over "The Tonight Show" from Jay Leno. According to a report today in the authoritative trade magazine Broadcasting & Cable, NBC and Fallon are deep in talks to put him in the "Late Show" seat that launched David Letterman. "I think he'd be terrific, and he is at the top of our short list," NBC late-night chief Rick Ludwin told the magazine. NBC is hell-bent on solidifying its late-night lineup way in advance. It apparently does not want a repeat of the Leno-Letterman war that broke out after Johnny Carson announced he was retiring 15 years ago. To avoid that - and the prospect of losing Conan to a rival network when his last contract expired - it promised him the "Tonight" show job in 2009. Leno is slated to step down then, though he has not said publicly whether that was his choice or a decision forced on him by NBC. Fallon would complete the other half of the equation and give the network two years to prepare for the change. After the "Today" show, "Tonight" is NBC's second-biggest moneymaker. Fallon quietly signed a holding deal with NBC earlier this year, according to B&C. NBC talked earlier this year, and only informally, with late-night cable host Jon Stewart about the job. But Stewart is tied to Comedy Central past 2009 and did not express a strong interest in jumping to network TV. Fallon has a moderate amount of experience in a talk-show setting. He co-anchored the "SNL" spoof newscast "Weekend Update" for several years with Tina Fey. Fallon also filled in well for Letterman when Dave was out for several weeks in 2003 recuperating from bypass surgery. Still up in the air is whether the "Late Show" would stay in New York or move to the West Coast, the mag reported. In fact, Ludwin says some higher ups in the network would like to see "Tonight" move back to New York, where it began. Conan's move to California "hasn't been completely nailed down," he told B&C. In the end, the choice of an "SNL" alum to take over for O'Brien is not all that surprising. "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels owns a piece of "Late Night" and would be expected to have a say - though not a deciding one - in who got the host's job. NBC says it expects to nail down Fallon by early next year, in time to announce its full, late-night lineup by this time next summer. One way or another, late-night TV is headed for a serious shake-up in 2009. Leno, who will be out of a job, could jump to ABC or even Fox, which has long tried to create a late-night franchise for the network. http://www.nypost.com/seven/07302007...hael_shain.htm
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08-09-2007, 10:05 PM	#2
Cactus Jack RonFingSwanson Forum Idol Join Date: Dec 09, 2001 Location: Santa Rosa Beach,FL Posts: 103,099	Thatd be AWESOME!
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08-09-2007, 11:49 PM	#4
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	Seriously, that'd be cool.
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08-10-2007, 02:48 AM	#5
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	I like that idea!!!
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08-10-2007, 05:20 AM	#6
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	The Tonight Show back in NYC? That would be a pretty neat trick. I wonder if Jay Leno would jump to another network?
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

08-10-2007, 01:12 PM	#7
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	that sounds good Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
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08-10-2007, 10:26 PM	#8
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,839	Okay, I'll be the Black Sheep of this thread. It's a TERRIBLE idea. I don't find Jimmy Fallon funny or entertaining at all. Hopefully he'll be too busy with the show that he doesn't make another one of his crappy films again. There's always a silver lining.