Official: THE TONIGHT SHOW Will Swap Jay Leno for Jimmy Fallon

It’s official: Jay Leno will depart THE TONIGHT SHOW and Jimmy Fallon will take his spot. (And Fallon will film his version of THE TONIGHT SHOW in New York.) According to an NBC press release, the transition will take place in spring 2014.

“Jay Leno is an entertainment icon, making millions of people laugh every weeknight for more than 20 years,” said Steve Burke, Chief Executive Officer of NBCUniversal in a statement. “His long reign as the highest-rated late-night host is a testament to his work ethic and dedication to his viewers and to NBC.”

“We are purposefully making this change when Jay is #1, just as Jay replaced Johnny Carson when he was #1,” Burke continued. “Jimmy Fallon is a unique talent and this is his time.  I’m thrilled he will become the sixth host of ‘The Tonight Show’ at exactly the right moment, in conjunction with our coverage of next year’s Winter Olympic Games from Sochi, Russia.”

“Congratulations Jimmy,” Leno said in a statement. “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.”

“I’m really excited to host a show that starts today instead of tomorrow,” Fallon joked in his statement.

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So, it’s official. Do you think this is the right move?

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