Jay Leno Finally Gets The Boot

Is Jay Leno finally getting the official boot from NBC?

Well, they’re sure going to try.

Leno’s contract expires in 2014, and unlike in 2009 when Leno insisted he wanted to stay with the network, work is now that enough is enough. The network is looking to hand the show to someone younger… Jimmy Fallon, if the rumors are to be believed.

Talent agents have announced that NBC has approached them to find a new host for Fallon’s 12:35 am time slot. Next month, Fallon’s show will move to 11:35 pm. This should make it appeal more to the coveted 18—49 age group beloved by advertisers.

Don’t feel too bad for the guy. Leno still make $15 million a year—and that’s a fifty percent pay cut, which Leno reportedly “volunteered” for to help NBC cut its “The Tonight Show” budget by 20%.

Also Leno has been vocal about the fact that he won’t retire until his CBS nemesis David Letterman does, and Letterman is only under contract until 2014. The two can gather on the porch together and complain about young whippersnappers taking everyone’s jobs.

One person probably pretty pleased by the news is Conan O’Brien, who was given Leno’s spot hosting when NBC initially tried to give Leno the heave-ho. However at Leno’s insistence, they made him a spot for “The Jay Leno Show,” which stole viewership from “The Tonight Show,” and O’Brien was quickly fired and Leno re-instated. O’Brien is still doing pretty well for himself with a late-night show on TBS, but the rivalry has been well noted.