NBC Bringing TONIGHT SHOW Back to NYC with Fallon as Host?

There's been no shortage of rumors in the past few years that NBC was prepping to boot Jay Leno from his coveted position as host of THE TONIGHT SHOW, and bring in fresher (and younger) talent: Jimmy Fallon.

Today, The New York Times reports that the network has begun implementing a plan to bring TONIGHT back to its original home, New York City, with Fallon officially taking the reins from Leno, who hosts from Burbank, CA. THE TONIGHT SHOW originally aired in 1954 with Steve Allen serving as host.

In addition, the publication has confirmed that execs are gutting a studio within 30 Rockefeller Plaza, prepping and updating it to welcome Fallon - and TONIGHT - as early as the fall of 2014.

For the original report, click here.

A representative for Leno has continuously denied the news, recently stating, "We do not speculate on rumor." Yet, Leno has faced tough competition in younger audience demos from ABC's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live', a show which made the move to the earlier time slot in January. "The more time Jimmy Kimmel is in that slot, the more the young audience goes that way, the harder it is for [Fallon] to keep that audience," says a source familiar with the network.

Recently, two "high-level industry sources" told The Hollywood Reporter that the peacock network will be making an official announcement in May that the 2013-14 television season will be the last for Leno. According to the report, Jimmy Fallon will take over as host of THE TONIGHT SHOW in the 11:35 p.m. slot beginning with "a soft launch during the summer of 2014 before a formal fall kickoff."

Though Leno remains competitve in the ratings, Jimmy Kimmel has been beating him in the all-important 18-49 demographic. "Kimmel has done extremely well," says a network source, adding, "Jay wins overall, but on any given night, it's neck-and-neck in 18-49. I understand where they might have fear and also feel that they own the solution [in Fallon.]"

Photo by: Sara De Boer / Retna Ltd