Jimmy Fallon 'Tonight Show' Host, 2014

It's official. NBC is firing Jay Leno, again.

Jimmy Fallon will become the host of The Tonight Show in spring of 2014.

This can't be compared with the Conan O'Brien debacle. It doesn't appear that Fallon was demanding the position like O'Brien did. This seems to be NBC.

From TooFab:

NBC's worst kept secret is a secret no longer -- Jimmy Fallon is taking over "The Tonight Show!"

The network confirmed on Wednesday morning that Fallon will replace 22-year host Jay Leno in Spring of 2014.

The move will also bring "The Tonight Show" back to New York City for the first time in 42 years, and the show will be executive produced by Fallon's friend and longtime boss, Lorne Michaels.

“Congratulations Jimmy," Leno said. "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.”

Despite the fact that Leno has held the job for so long, it is rumored that he's still disappointed with the news, even taking jabs at NBC in his recent monologues. And let's not forget the last time Leno left the show -- Conan O'Brien replaced him in 2009 for a whole 7 months before Jay controversially returned to his hosting chair.

I can understand why Leno isn't happy. I would be disappointed if I were him.

He doesn't want to retire now. He's doing his job for NBC, keeping his show number one in the ratings. He's on top and NBC is showing him the door.

When Johnny Carson left the show, he made the choice. He wasn't forced out. Leno, however, is being forced out again.

The statement from NBC is so lame.

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.”

“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. “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. 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.

"We are purposefully making this change when Jay is #1, just as Jay replaced Johnny Carson when he was #1."

Oh, my God! That's hard to swallow.

Carson chose to leave. Leno doesn't want to go now.

The NBC weasels act like they're doing Leno a favor, preserving his legacy. It's a very self-serving move by NBC, as well as untrue.

This part of NBC's release is funny:

Leno has hosted “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” since taking over the reins from television icon Johnny Carson in 1992.

Have the NBC suits forgotten about that little forced hiatus when O'Brien briefly held the reins? Doesn't O'Brien even get an asterisk?

I think it's good that NBC has confirmed the rumors. All speculation is over, but it's still awkward.

It's hard to make the argument that someone should be fired when that individual is delivering.

Although Leno has swung dramatically and annoyingly to the Left politically in his monologues and interviews, and he has really been bugging me, I feel sorry for him.

I don't see how he can be depicted as the bad guy this time. Clearly, NBC is pushing him out yet he's doing all he can to make the transition smoother for Fallon.

As for Fallon, currently my favorite late night host, I hope he doesn't suffer from the same uncomfortableness that O'Brien did when he hosted Tonight. Staying in New York will probably help Fallon, but a massive new studio might be a problem. The intimacy and the fun, private party feel might be lost.

Fallon's show will change. That's inevitable and that's too bad.