‘The Tonight Show’ may return to New York
NBC’s “Tonight Show” may soon be switching hosts — and coasts.
The long-struggling network is finalizing plans to replace Jay Leno with Jimmy Fallon in 2014, people close to the situation said Wednesday. And in a blow for Southern California, the strategy also calls for NBC to move the show back to New York, after serving as a fixture in what ex-host Johnny Carson jokingly dubbed “beautiful downtown Burbank” for 41 years.
The switch will touch off a new round of musical chairs in late-night, one of the most competitive areas in TV. ABC recently promoted Jimmy Kimmel to the plum 11:35 p.m. position, directly competing with “Tonight” and CBS’ “Late Show With David Letterman,” which may have forced NBC’s hand.
-- Scott Collins and Joe Flint, Los Angeles Times