Jimmy Fallon’s move to replace Jay Leno on the “Tonight Show” is nearly complete, according to a published report.
Fallon, 38, has just signed a new contract with NBC — one that clearly holds that he will eventually succeed the 62-year old Leno in the coveted 11:35 p.m. time slot, the report revealed.
It is not known when the Brooklyn-born Fallon, who now hosts the 12:35 a.m. “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” show, will step into Leno shoes, according to the report in The Hollywood Reporter, which quoted “well-placed sources.”
NBC executives want to launch Fallon in a newly-scrubbed New York-based “Tonight Show” in February during the network’s highly-watched Winter Olympics coverage, THR reported. NBC and Fallon’s reps at CAA refused to comment.
NBC sees Seth Meyers as the front-runner to replace Fallon, THR reported.