Jay Leno Rumored to be Leaving The Tonight Show
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(Image source: NBC)
BY STEVEN SPARKMAN
ANCHOR CHRISTIAN BRYANT
Is Leno leaving NBC? A new batch of rumors surfaced this week saying the Tonight Show icon is on his way out as host. The Hollywood Reporter broke the story, quoting two network sources saying:
“...the 2013-14 television season will be the last for Leno as host of the long-running late-night show. Sources expect the network to move Jimmy Fallon from his Late Night spot into the coveted 11:35 time slot with a soft launch during the summer of 2014 before a formal fall kickoff.”
The sources go on to say while Leno wins the late-night ratings battle overall, he’s consistently losing ground to a competitor in the 18-49 demographic.
“If true, it comes after ABC moved Jimmy Kimmel to go head-to-head with Leno. A Leno rep is quoted as saying tonight ‘We do not speculate on quote “rumor” in the report.’ NBC also denying any such plan.” (Video via ABC News)
The network reportedly hopes Fallon can halt the flow of younger viewers switching over to Kimmel, but there may be even more to it than that.
Mediaite says: “this move appears to be an effort to stave off any moves by networks to jack Fallon to their airwaves … The other big reason for NBC to push Leno out the door and move Fallon up to the Tonight Show slot is money. Leno is paid an estimated $ 15 million a year … Fallon is reportedly paid $ 5 million a year...”
Of course, the idea of Leno retiring has a “haven’t we been here before?” feel to it.
The Gothamist notes: “You may recall that things didn't exactly go smoothly the last time NBC tried to move Jay Leno off of The Tonight Show and replace him with someone younger (and 100% more ginger).”
Hmm, I wonder who they’re talking about. (Via Wikimedia Commons)
Of course, whether the rumors are true this time around or not, a writer for the Examiner says it’s not hard to imagine Leno’s move. After all, Letterman is also rumored to be retiring in 2014.
“Is Jay Leno's retirement inevitable? Of course. The guy has to retire at some point -- he can't host ‘The Tonight Show’ forever. … It would definitely be a shake up but it is something that television pros have been waiting for.”
If the report is accurate, NBC plans to announce Leno’s retirement in May.
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