Jimmy Fallon to Replace Jay Leno as The Tonight Show Host By 2014: Report

The Tonight Show is expected to return to New York with Jimmy Fallon at the helm, The New York Times reports.

Although a deal isn’t done, NBC has apparently struck a deal with Fallon to replace Jay Leno as host of the iconic late-night program, most likely taking over in the fall of 2014. Tonight hasn’t taken place in the Big Apple since it debuted with Steve Allen in 1954. Host Johnny Carson eventually moved it to Burbank, Calif., in 1972.

Earlier this week, Leno made a jab toward NBC in his opening monologue.

“Well, you know, the whole legend of St. Patrick, right?” Leno said. “St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland, and then they came to the United States and became NBC executives.”

On Wednesday, NBC told the Times that the tense situation between the two parties was being “smoothed over.”

It won’t be the first time Leno has left Tonight. In 2009, he moved to primetime with The Jay Leno Show with Conan O’Brien as has replacement. Seven months later, NBC announced Leno was returning to his old post.

Fallon, meanwhile, has been successful in his four years and NBC reportedly believes he’s the best contender to compete with Jimmy Kimmel in the prized 18-to-49 demographic.