Jimmy Fallon to take over Late Night after Conan's departure in 2009

Posted by: Paul Little  •  May 14, 2008 @ 3:51am

After months of speculation, including "confirmed" reports from insiders at the end of April, NBC announced on Monday that former Saturday Night Live castmember Jimmy Fallon will be taking over Late Night following the departure of Conan O'Brien to The Tonight Show.

"I'm ready to work really hard," Fallon told reporters on Monday, "and I'm just excited about this."

Lorne Michaels, executive producer of both Late Night and SNL, originally picked O'Brien for the spot back in 1993 and is happy with his choice of Fallon to take over the show.

"I think he's funny enough, I think he's talented enough, I think he'll be great at this," said Michaels.

For his part, Fallon isn't daunted by the task of taking over for O'Brien, who went from being a little-known writer for television shows such as Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons to the man taking over for Jay Leno on late night television's biggest show.

"I'm going to dye my hair red and get lifts in my shoes," he joked.

Fallon does have experience behind a desk, spending four seasons filling the out-of-character role of SNL "Weekend Update" co-host as well as serving as a guest host on CBS' The Late Show with David Letterman in 2003.

For more from Fallon, be sure to watch the video below.

Tags: Late Night, Jimmy Fallon, Lorne Michaels, Conan O'Brien

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Paul Little is the founder and Managing Editor of ShowbizMonkeys.com. When not interviewing his favourite musicians and comedians, he can also be found putting on and promoting music and comedy events with The Purple Room in Winnipeg, or co-producing the live comedy game shows Pants on Fire and The Great Patio Showdown. (@comedygeek)

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