NBC Confirms What Everybody Has Known For Weeks

Unfortunately for me, NBC didn’t announce today that they’re going to save the network by replacing Jay Leno as the host of The Tonight Show with a naked Anderson Cooper (and The Hammaconda as his sidekick), but they did announce that The Almighty Chin will retire and Jimmy Fallon will replace him. Fallon will take over next spring and The Tonight Show will move to NYC. NBC also said that Lorne Michaels will take over as executive producer. Deadline is hearing that Seth Meyers is still talking to NBC about taking Jimmy Fallon’s soon-to-be old job. Here’s a piece of NBC’s press release:

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – April 3, 2012 – Jay Leno, longtime host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” announced today that he will wrap up what will be 22 years of headlining the iconic late-night show in Spring 2014. NBC also announced today that Jimmy Fallon, now host of NBC’s “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” will transition into new hosting duties on “The Tonight Show” franchise after Leno concludes his successful run.

As part of the transition, “The Tonight Show” will be returning to its original home in 30 Rock in New York and will be executive-produced by Emmy Award winner Lorne Michaels (“Saturday Night Live,” “30 Rock”). Programming plans for the 12:35 a.m. (ET) time period currently are in development and will be announced soon. Said Leno: “Congratulations Jimmy. I hope you’re as lucky as me and hold on to the job until you’re the old guy. If you need me, I’ll be at the garage.”

Said Fallon: “I’m really excited to host a show that starts today instead of tomorrow.”

Our thoughts and prayers should be with every staff member at every nursing home, because the oldies will throw their caramel squares across the room and slap down tricks when they hear this news. But they shouldn’t get too upset. I’m sure NBC will put Jimmy Fallon on a bus headed for TBS as soon as Jay Leno decides he wants his job back.