Breaking: And Now.....Heeereeeeee's Jimmy!

[firepoint525]

NBC has now issued a press release on Jay Leno's departure and Jimmy Fallon's promotion:
http://www.nbcumv.com/mediavillage/...eleases/2013/04/03/jaylenoannounce1292972.xml .

"Leno has hosted “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” since taking over the reins from television icon Johnny Carson in 1992."
Talk about a convenient whitewashing. There WAS the small matter of that tall, lanky guy with the cowlick ... right?
I know NBC wants to pretend as if the Conan chapter was all a bad dream, but some viewers do pay attention.

There was also that blurb last summer about Jay Leno's "20th anniversary" as host of The Tonight Show. :

 

[Corky Marlowe]

I still wish Letterman (even though he's now become an angrier, less funny version of Chris Matthews) had gotten "Tonight", and that Leno had either done monthly specials and essentially become the new Bob Hope, or gotten an hour long one night a week prime time show like Jack Paar did.

 

[TheBigA]

Leno had either done monthly specials and essentially become the new Bob Hope, or gotten an hour long one night a week prime time show like Jack Paar did.

Hmmm...monthly specials...maybe bring back the old Dean Martin roasts? That might work for him.

 

[anotherguyTN]

I also believe that Letterman should have been picked as Carson's replacement, but if that had happened Leno would have probably ended up on another network still competing against Letterman. How TV history would have turned out if that had happened is anybody's guess.

 

[Morgan Wick]

I also believe that Letterman should have been picked as Carson's replacement, but if that had happened Leno would have probably ended up on another network still competing against Letterman. How TV history would have turned out if that had happened is anybody's guess.

Depends on which network Leno went to, and even that might not matter much (unless it was Fox and I think they still had Arsenio at the time). It is worth wondering if Leno would have caught on without the cachet of the Tonight Show name, and if not would Letterman continue Carson's dominance in such a way that whatever network didn't get Leno wouldn't feel the need to get in on late night themselves the way ABC did with Kimmel. Would Arsenio have had more of an impact on late night? Would there have been a more orderly transition from Letterman to Conan, especially without the Letterman-Leno mutual animosity?

 

[F.M.Hertz]

One question or topic that's been overlooked in this transition: who will be the house band for "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon?"

Will he stick with ?uest Love and The Roots and expand it, or will he get a new bandleader?

 

[TheBigA]

That's a good question. I think he really loves The Roots, and they've become an integral part of the show. However, the presentation might be a bit hard for 11:30. No question that Jimmy's guests enjoy playing with The Roots, and they have the respect of the music community.

 

[1069_KIFR]

I believe that Jimmy Fallon would have asked for The Roots and most likely, his announcer, in his new contract. Just like Conan moved all of his people to LA, without Max Weinberg, who left on his own

 

[nomadcowatbk]

Is Fox (and its affiliates) still interested in Leno? Haven't heard any talk about that since the official announcement

 

[Lehos]

I believe that Jimmy Fallon would have asked for The Roots and most likely, his announcer, in his new contract. Just like Conan moved all of his people to LA, without Max Weinberg, who left on his own

Max came along to LA for The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and was leader of Max Weinberg and The Tonight Show Band. There was speculation that Conan and Max had a bit of a falling out when Conan walked from Tonight, and Max, who never wanted to leave New Jersey, decided not to continue with the TBS show.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

I also hope The Roots stay with Jimmy Fallon.

Yes, they've got a much different sound than any other studio band on a talk/variety show, but they're a perfect fit for his show (and the show for them).

As regards The Roots: Don't change a thing!

 

[1069_KIFR]

I believe that Jimmy Fallon would have asked for The Roots and most likely, his announcer, in his new contract. Just like Conan moved all of his people to LA, without Max Weinberg, who left on his own

Max came along to LA for The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and was leader of Max Weinberg and The Tonight Show Band. There was speculation that Conan and Max had a bit of a falling out when Conan walked from Tonight, and Max, who never wanted to leave New Jersey, decided not to continue with the TBS show.

Thank you, I stand corrected!