Jimmy Fallon to Host The Tonight Show?

Will Jimmy Fallon be hosting The Tonight Show in the future? Sources say that execs at NBC are eyeing Fallon as the next host of The Tonight Show, and we can’t help but wonder if this news stings Conan O’Brien just a little.

If you recall, Jay Leno announced his retirement back in 2008 and NBC hired Conan O’Brien to replace him.

Oh, but they were only kidding.

Jay decided to return to the show after making a huge ordeal out of retiring and promising the spot to Conan. It was a huge mess and Conan and Jay haven’t exactly been on good terms since. Conan quit, got his own show over at TBS, and Leno went back to the show as if nothing happened. It was really weird. Since Jay’s return to late night his ratings have been less than desirable and his humor has gotten predictable and bland. Meanwhile, Jimmy Fallon has been kicking ass on his late night show and has a young, hip audience that NBC is looking to capture with him on The Tonight Show.

Jay Leno’s contract with The Tonight show ends in 2014 and it’s highly unlikely he will re-sign.

Over at ABC, Jimmy Kimmel also has a very successful late night show which is slated to move to 11:35pm beginning after the new year. I’m quite sure Kimmel will be owning Leno in that time slot, but how interesting would it be to see Fallon vs. Kimmel in a battle of late night TV? I can’t say I’d complain, I’d have to DVR both, because the Jimmy’s definitely know a thing or two about entertainment. Good riddance, Jay. You should have left the first time around.