And now for something completely different…a run-down of how all the big late night hosts reacted to Leno leaving The Tonight Show…[In order of preference]
5. Jimmy Kimmel’s response was surprisingly not-nasty, and even a little tame…
“It is a big one for the world of late-night television. As you probably heard, it was announced officially today: Starting in February of next year, after the Olympics, I will take over as new host of The Tonight Show. I spoke to Jay on the phone today.” After speaking to a staffer, Kimmel offered a correction: “Turns out, I will not be hosting The Tonight Show. Does anyone know what the return policy is on yachts?”
4. Jimmy Fallon was the real winner, so it wouldn’t have made sense for him to diss NBC, but he got a quick dig in at his own show and how it has always just been a launching pad for him
“This is Late Night with Jimmy Fallon… for now,” said Fallon, to a round of raucous applause. “You guys probably heard the news that I’m going to be taking over for The Tonight Show next February. But don’t worry, until February, our focus is here, on whatever this show is called.”
3. Conan O’Brien didn’t diss NBC either (and didn’t even mention Leno), instead offering up a gracious statement that congratulated Jimmy…but isn’t that a little boring? If anyone has been screwed by NBC, it’s him, not Leno or Letterman, so I wanted him to dig in a little more. I know people are saying they loved how classy he was, but they don’t watch his show anyway, they aren’t fans of his, and they really just want him to make as little noise as possible as he works the small room over on TBS.
“You know, ladies and gentlemen, before we go any further tonight there’s something that I want to mention that’s very important. It was announced today, just a couple hours ago, that Jimmy Fallon is going to take over The Tonight Show next year, and I want to congratulate Jimmy. That’s a really fun gig.” When the audience laughed, O’Brien continued, “It is! You laugh, it’s a fun gig — and you know what? Jimmy is the perfect guy to do it. He’s going to do a fantastic job, so congratulations, Jimmy.”
2. Jay Leno actually let his fangs show a little bit, daring to be edgier than…Jimmy Fallon (eye roll) and taking a dump on NBC, as he has been for weeks now, but I really don’t blame him. Clearly, he doesn’t want to go (he’d like to die hosting the Tonight Show), and it’s probably the wrong move for NBC to push him out at this time…when they went through all that trouble to re-install him and push out Conan only three years ago (a big mistake that NBC now clearly regrets as they desperately try to install a younger host)…
“Folks, I’ve gotta be honest with you. Had a really awkward day today. Had to call David Letterman and tell him he didn’t get The Tonight Show again. I want to congratulate our good friend Jimmy Fallon. He is a hell of a guy, he’s going to do a great job. I just have one request of Jimmy: We’ve all fought, kicked, and scratched to get this network up to fifth place. Now we have to keep it there. Jimmy, don’t let it slip into sixth. We’re counting on you!”
1. David Letterman, as should be expected, offered up the best, most cutting response, taking sly digs at his long nemesis Leno, and NBC, whom he seems to hate just as much…
“How many of you folks earlier today saw the white smoke coming out of the pipe at NBC? I got a call from my mom today, she says ‘Well, David, I see you didn’t get The Tonight Show again.’ What are you going to do, Mom? It seems like we just went through this. Didn’t we just go through this? Jay Leno is being replaced, and this is the second time this has happened. This is crazy: He’s being replaced by a younger late-night talk show host. What could possibly go wrong?” Letterman concluded by offering a smirking, backhanded congratulations to Leno “if, in fact, you’re not coming back.”
Then he went into a tirade asking what NBC was possibly thinking, great stuff.
And if Craig Ferguson made any mention of The Tonight Show change-up, I can’t find it, but Craig’s show often feels like an irrelevant public access talk show that somehow hacked its way onto CBS affiliates anyway. I’m sure he made better use of the time by talking to some puppets or asking an interviewee if they’ve ever been to Scotland since we might forget he’s from there if he doesn’t mention it every five minutes.