Saturday Night Live alum Jimmy Fallon reportedly will take over Conan O’Brien’s spot as host of NBC’s Late Night next year.
AP reports that the 33-year-old Fallon, known for his boyish, winsome image on the venerable late-night sketch program, has signed or will soon sign a deal with NBC to host the show when O’Brien moves to the 11:30 slot to host the Tonight Show.
No official announcement has been made.
It seems likely that Late Night will be less "edgy" and bizarre than it has been during O’Brien’s tenure, and that the Tonight Show will be much more of both than it has been while in Leno’s hands.
Given the two programs’ time slots, it seems that the movement of hosts will probably reduce the ratings for NBC’s late-night slate, given that the 11:30 audience has historically been less adventurous than the 12:30 group. NBC is evidently hoping to change either the audience or O’Brien.