Jul 22, 2008 by Brian Gallagher

Conan O'Brien to Take Over The Tonight Show in June 2009

Conan O'Brien, the dominant late-night host at 12:35 a.m. (ET) for the past 14 seasons, will succeed Jay Leno as host of the preeminent series on late-night television, NBC's The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien in June of 2009. Beginning in Spring 2009, Jimmy Fallon will step in as the Late Night host. The announcement was made today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios and Marc Graboff, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien will begin on Monday, June 1, 2009 (11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET) with Leno's last The Tonight Show telecast airing Friday, May 29, 2009.

"The Tonight Show has a remarkable history rich in tradition. We're proud of each and every show Jay has shared with America as we look forward to Conan carrying on that outstanding tradition next year," said Rick Ludwin, Executive Vice President, Late Night and Primetime Series, NBC Entertainment. "We also can't wait for Jimmy to showcase his winning style following Conan. Jay has left his personal stamp on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno for what will be 17 years. He is enormously creative, generous and professional."

The Tonight Show continues to be the most dominant late-night institution in television history. Since it first premiered on September 27, 1954 with Steve Allen, The Tonight Show has had just four permanent hosts, including Leno. Allen, host of the then titled "Tonight," eventually left late night to start his own primetime variety series on NBC. Jack Paar premiered on July 29, 1957. On October 1, 1962, Johnny Carson stepped on stage for day one of his tenure as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Leno, who began guest-hosting The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in September 1987, became host of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on May 25, 1992. O'Brien joined NBC as a writer on Saturday Night Live in 1988 and premiered as host of Late Night with Conan O'Brien on September 13, 1993.

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien will originate from Stage 1 at Universal Studios and will be produced by Universal Media Studios. Jeff Ross is the executive producer.


Sources: NBC

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Comments (12)

  1. RetiredArmyE8

    I've tried watching Conan a couple of times and all I can is that it looks like May 29th will be my last night with the Tonight Show. Sorry to see Jay leave; maybe he'll go to another network as I don't believe the proposed Prime Time slot will work out.

    3 years agoby @retiredarmye8Flag

  2. revolution909

    Conan's funny but it'll be weird not having Jay on tv at night

    4 years agoby @comida910Flag

  3. aime18

    I wonder how much they'll let Conan O'Brien do. I wonder if he'll do what he does now.

    4 years agoby @aime18Flag

  4. ed_wood

    Jay should just retire, he had a good run. Conan will do great on the Tonight Show and Fallon will be good too.

    4 years agoby @ed-woodFlag

  5. AnnoyingFilmCritic

    I don't know why this is news, since Leno and Conan entered into this contractual agreement about 5 years ago.

    Leno has expressed reluctance to leave and is being courted by the other networks...Fox wants to give hime a late show in the same 10:30pm time slot that Conan is taking over. I think that Leno should just retire and play with his $gazillions and museum-quality car collection.

    Glad to see Conan takeover, he's always been my favorite late night bobble head.

    4 years agoby @annoyingfilmcriticFlag

  6. Err

    nah, CBF, im pretty sure the weinberg 7 is sticking around for the move.

    4 years agoby @err2005Flag

  7. Err

    yeah he said hes moving to l.a. a couple times.
    i guess he thinks of it as a tradition for late night hosts, if i remember correctly.
    something about carson doing the show from there, although honestly i thought carson filmed in ny, but i dont really remember because i was pretty young when leno took over.

    4 years agoby @err2005Flag

  8. Space101

    Is Conan gonna be moving to LA? or is the show moving to NY? What will happen with the bands as well?

    4 years agoby @space101Flag

  9. CBF

    But what will happen to Max Weinberg? I wonder if he'll go to tour with Springsteen full-time. And Kevin may leave with Jay, I heard. So there's an opening spot. Maybe Labamba? Haha. "In the year 2000...." Hahaha. Lol.

    And Jimmy Fallon will surely give the Late Night show a boost in ratings and bring it back to life!! Can't wait. Fallon is hilarious!

    4 years agoby @comicbookfanFlag

  10. CBF

    Good thing because for the last few years, Conan's Late Night show has fallen off. It was funny up until NBC recieved budget cuts, had to get rid of some characters (like the Masturbating Bear!!), and stopped making fun of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

    I'm just hoping The Tonight Show will still be good when Conan takes over. For years I stayed up to watch him and he was always my favorite.

    4 years agoby @comicbookfanFlag

  11. CDT1013

    Fing spam!

    4 years agoby @jmt1000000Flag

  12. Soylent Green:The Devil's Eyes

    cool

    4 years agoby @jcisawesomeFlag

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