'Late Night' Records Shattered With Jimmy Fallon's Exit
Jimmy Fallon garnered record-breaking ratings on his final episode of "Late Night" on Friday night.
The television host is set to take over on the "Tonight Show" where he will replace Jay Leno beginning on Feb. 17. First, Fallon hosted his last "Late Night" bringing in his highest ratings ever- over 6.6 million viewers tuned in on Friday, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The record-breaking number of viewers was the most for any "Late Night" host since David Letterman's send off from the show in 1993.
Fallon's last show saw Andy Samberg as well as the Muppets as guests and joined the host for a performance of The Band's "The Weight." Fortunately, Fallon's fans are not saying goodbye for long- the comedian is heading to "The Tonight Show" in just one week.
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Leno bid farewell to "Tonight Show" viewers on Thursday night after hosting the series for 22 years on NBC. The final week saw many emotional goodbyes from guests including Sandra Bullock, who shed tears while discussing Leno's longstanding hosting duties.
"You've always been so kind. That's saying a lot in this business because we like to be mean," Bullock told Leno as tears began welling up on his second-to-last show on Feb. 5. "There's not been one time that you haven't treated me like I had something to offer. Even when the film was horrible and you knew it, you never let me see it in your eyes."
Meanwhile, Leno admitted last month that leaving "The Tonight Show" was not his own choice.
"It's not my decision," he revealed while on "60 Minutes." "I think I probably would have stayed if we didn't have a qualified young guy ready to jump in."
Nevertheless, Leno is not embittered by Fallon taking his place.
"I probably would have stayed a little longer, but we have a very talented, very good [host], I think he's more like a young Johnny than anybody since," Leno explained.
"The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon" begins at 11:35 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17 on NBC.
