NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt has revealed that Jay Leno won't be leaving The Tonight Show and Leno's contract has been extended past its original 2014 expiration.
Greenblatt confirmed the news at the annual Television Critics Association 2013 winter press tour on Sunday, reports The Huffington Post.
It was originally reported last month that NBC was quietly looking into having Late Night host Jimmy Fallon take over at The Tonight Show when Leno's contract expires but Greenblatt denied that.
"Greenblatt insists there have not been talks with Jimmy Fallon to succeed Jay Leno. 'Those conversations are premature,'" TV Guide Magazine tweeted.
https://twitter.com/TVGuideMagazine/status/287986614465073152" data-datetime="2013-01-06T18:18:54+00:00
Television critic Jim Halterman also tweeted from the TCA winter press tour saying, "Leno's contract just extended. No real talks about any succession plan when he does step down. They also love Carson Daly's show."
https://twitter.com/JimHalterman/status/287986558538235904" data-datetime="2013-01-06T18:18:40+00:00
Greenblatt said that despite ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! moving up to 11:35 p.m. this week, NBC isn't concerned.
"Greenblatt said they're not concerned about changes in late night (Kimmel). Leno has a legacy...Fallon beats Kimmel in time slot," Halterman tweeted.
https://twitter.com/JimHalterman/status/287986389172224000" data-datetime="2013-01-06T18:18:00+00:00
Since 1992 Leno has been the host of The Tonight Show until Conan O'Brien hosted the show from 2009 to 2010 and Leno had his own prime time talk show. Leno's talk show received low ratings and NBC decided to bring him back as the host of The Tonight Show which was seen by many as a PR disaster.