Hmmm…this all sounds vaguely familiar, doesn’t it?
And although we don’t want to get our hopes up, our fingers will stay crossed that this move works out better than the last time they tried it!
More details are surfacing that seem to confirm our previous report that NBC is making moves to FINALLY show Jay Leno the door, as his contract with the The Tonight Show expires after the 2013-14 season…and execs with the network are hoping to segue Jimmy Fallon from Late Night into the much-sought-after 11:35 time slot, as early as the summer of 2014!
According to insiders, Leno is just as reluctant to leave as ever, because he doesn’t want to retire before his CBS rival David Letterman does, but the network is eager to beef up the ratings game ever since ABC moved the comic’s biggest hater, Jimmy Kimmel, into the 11:35 spot this past January.
They explain:
├óΓé¼┼ôThe more time Jimmy Kimmel is in that slot, the more the young audience goes that way, the harder it is for Jimmy [Fallon] to keep that audience. Kimmel has done extremely well. Jay wins overall, but on any given night, it’s neck-and-neck in 18-49. I understand where they might have fear and also feel that they own the solution [in Fallon.]”
Furthermore, NBC is afraid that if Letterman DOES, in fact, retire in 2014, CBS will try to poach Fallon from them…and end up re-living the entire Conan O’Brien controversy that we all endured in 2009 when Jay decided he wanted his old job back after the ginge-comedian was SECURED his old position!
Of course, a rep for Leno maintains:
“We do not speculate on rumor.”
But we’re fairly certain that come May upfronts, this will all turn out to be much more than just rumor!
At least we’re praying it is!
Time to usurp the throne from Grandpa, Jimmy!
If Coco couldn’t have the spot, then we can’t think of anyone else who’s more deserving!
What do U think? Should Fallon replace Leno on The Tonight Show?!
[Images via WENN.]