Fallon Replaces Leno on The Tonight Show

Steve Allen. Jack Paar. Johnny Carson. Conan O’Brien. Jay Leno. What do all of these famous funny men have in common? Well, they’ve all had stints as hosts of one of America’s longest-running TV programs: The Tonight Show. This iconic late-night talk show has been an institution on American TV for well over half a century now. During that time, its various hosts (and their many interesting guests) have given the gift of laughter to billions of people all over the world. They’ve compelled us to tune in night after night to enjoy the unique comedic spin that they’ve been able to put on some of the biggest (and most serious) stories of the day. Depending on how long you’ve been a fan of the show, it’s likely that you’ve been around for some of the many changes that have taken place over the years. However, despite all the changes that have occurred, The Tonight Show has always managed to survive the transition from one era to the next. On Thursday, February 6, the curtains will come down on yet another era in the show’s history. Jay Leno will take his final curtain call as host.

 

 

Jay Leno delivers the opening monologue during the inauguration of ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’.

Jay Leno has had a long and colorful relationship with The Tonight Show. If you’re a longstanding fan, you might just remember his debut appearance on March 2, 1977. Subsequently, his well-received comedic routines led to him becoming a regular face on the show. The ruddy-cheeked comedian so endeared himself to audiences that, by 1987, he was soon making regular appearances as a substitute host for Johnny Carson. When Carson stepped away from hosting duties in 1992, executives at NBC gave the 40-odd year old New York native the golden opportunity to step in and try to fill the enormous shoes vacated by the controversial TV icon. (Carson had been the face of The Tonight Show for three decades.)

 

 

The Jay Leno Era

Leno’s reign as the new “King of Late Night” got off to a rocky start. There were suggestions in some quarters that David Letterman, who eventually moved over to host the Late Show with David Letterman on CBS, should have been the man to claim the throne. However, despite the various controversies that were seemingly ever-present during his time at the top, Leno managed to keep large audiences tuning in to The Tonight Show to watch him do his thing. There was, of course, the brief period during which another high profile funny man – Conan O’Brien – assumed the show’s reigns. This situation was short-lived, though. Leno and his uncanny ability to deliver a punchy punch line soon returned to head up, to some degree, the flagging fortunes of the show that he contributed to keeping at the head of the increasingly competitive late-night TV line.

 

 

Feedback from the Critics

The Tonight Show franchise has accumulated numerous nominations and awards from various bodies while Jay Leno has been fronting it. In fact, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (and those behind it) earned over 40 major award nominations between 1993 and 2005 – including a Primetime Emmy Award for the “Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series” in 1995. The show also won two “Favorite Late Night Show” accolades from the organizers of the now defunct TV Guide Awards in 1999 and 2000.

 

 

Jimmy Fallon looks to the future as he prepares to become the next host of The Tonight Show.

The significant patronage received from national television audiences has also served as a glowing indicator of the special place that the show occupies in the hearts of millions of people throughout the United States. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno has consistently attracted larger audiences than its main competitors within the 11:35 p.m. to 12:35 a.m. ET slot. According to Nielsen stats (up to the end of January), the current season has seen the show pull in an average audience of 3.9 million viewers per episode. Though slightly lower than in some previous seasons, this figure still compares very favorably with the 2.9 and 2.6 million people who opted to spend their nights with David Letterman (Late Show with David Letterman) and Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!) respectively.                 

 

Jimmy Fallon Cometh

Popular comedian and TV personality Jimmy Fallon, who is scheduled to take over the reins from Leno on February 17, will host the latest installment in The Tonight Show franchise – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. This won’t be the only change that’ll come into effect at that time. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is currently being shot at NBC Studios in Burbank, California. However, the series hosted by Fallon will return to one of its former homes, NBC Studios in Manhattan, New York. The Roots, who serve as the house band on Fallon’s current show, will assume the same responsibilities when he makes the transition into the prime late night spot.     

 

 

The end of an Era   

It’s often said that the only constant in life is change. The life of a long-running TV program, such as The Tonight Show, is often marked by this evolutionary feature as well. The next stage in this iconic show’s evolution will take place in February 2014. The 6^th will see Jay Leno exiting stage left. Meanwhile, on the 17^th, Jimmy Fallon will take center stage.  

Fallon Replaces Leno on The Tonight Show