Is Jay Leno Leaving The Tonight Show (Again)?

It sounds like NBC may be preparing to announced Jay Leno's departure from The Tonight Show... again.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, two high-level sources say the network is planning a May announcement for the 2013-14 season to be Leno's last as the host of his long-running talk show. They also suspect Jimmy Fallon will be bumped up to the coveted 11:35pm slot beginning summer 2014. (Sound familiar?)

A Leno rep commented, "We do not speculate on rumor." Whether the news is true or not, it's likely that Leno would be reluctant to retire, especially before David Letterman, his rival on CBS. Both comedians are signed through 2014.

The reason for this shakeup may possibly stem from the competition on ABC, which moved Jimmy Kimmel Live! to 11:35pm back in January. Though Leno is still winning most nights, one insider suggests to THR, "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."

As THR points out, another concern is that if Letterman does retire in 2014, CBS will be eager to sign a new host, potentially resulting in a battle over Fallon. This would mirror Conan O'Brien's own NBC scuffle, when he was promised the inheritance of The Tonight Show in 2009 as part of his deal to stick with NBC. Of course, we all know how that story ended, which is that O'Brien was eventually caught in a heavily publicized feud with NBC upon Leno's return, resulting in a costly settlement with O'Brien, who now hosts his own show on TBS.

As for who would replace Fallon in all this muckety-muck is uncertain, but the New York Post suggests that NBC may have a lead in Howard Stern. But why hire someone just three years younger than Leno to take the Late Night slot? Well, according to Stern's wife Beth Ostrosky Stern, her husband has been getting a lot of attention from the younger set thanks to his judging stint on America's Got Talent.

However, that report seems less likely, as another insider at NBC denied the claim. Stay tuned for more info as it comes our way. (We're guessing NBC won't announce plans for The Jay Leno Show to return... probably).

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love by following @Max_Nicholson on Twitter, or MaxNicholson on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com