Jimmy Fallon to audition online for Conan’s job
When talk show host Conan O’Brien replaces Jay Leno on the Tonight Show next year, Saturday Night Live’s Jimmy Fallon will take over the Late Night spot. Fallon’s transition will not be sudden, however, since he is set to star in a number of webisodes this fall. As he transitions from the comedy sketch show to the comedy talk show, producer Lorne Michaels will give web video fans a taste of Fallon long before he takes to the airwaves.
Michaels reportedly told the media that he wants Fallon to star in the webisodes so he can “work out as many of the rough spots in his presentation as possible.” While Saturday Night Live is a good background for the pressures of a live audience, late night hosts have to deal with guests and a stressful nightly routine. Web videos will introduce Fallon to a larger audience and challenges of a strict shooting schedule.
Webisodes are set to being airing in the fall, before the shuffling of hosts begins in earnest at NBC. Michaels told the New York Times that his vision is a more open concept than simply a talk show on the web. “[We want] more opportunity for experimentation…Conan needed time to find his show. I think this will help Jimmy to do that.” Indeed, O’Brien’s show has always been outside of the norm, at least for the late night format. By debuting episodes online, Fallon can avoid some of the rules and regulations governing TV content.
Michaels also revealed that Fallon’s web performances will be short pieces, not a full-length show. “I expect that we’ll do something like five or ten minutes…I’m going to post them at 12:30 every night, so people will begin to look for Jimmy at that time.” However, despite the details about his plan for Fallon’s web debut, neither Michaels nor NBC has revealed exactly where and how they’ll be distributed.
ArsTechnica is betting on NBC-owned Hulu. “Michaels has yet to decide where to post the shows, though we would frankly be shocked if they didn’t end up on the NBC/FOX joint venture Hulu (where you can already see Fallon in full SNL geek-out mode as “Nick Burns, Your Company’s Computer Guy”).” This would allow not only for a broad base of users (Hulu already has millions of viewers), but also for the integration of advertising. Hulu automatically places advertising spots before content, with short interruptions during longer videos.
Fallon’s debut will not only provide potential advertising revenue before he even hits primetime, but it will also give him a chance to win over his target audience. While the host finds his rhythm, the audience can find their loyalty, and the network can find unexpected ad money. Seems like a win-win. At least, for everyone except Jay Leno.
By Haley January Eckels
