Is Jimmy Fallon on the verge of being fired from The Tonight Present?
When Jimmy first took the reins from earlier host Jay Leno, he promptly silenced haters with years of surprisingly stable scores.
However a number of consecutive seasons of viewership erosion have left the once-popular comedian in a precarious place.
Jimmy Fallon hosts “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” at Rockefeller Heart on March 1, 2011 in New York Metropolis. (Picture by Theo Wargo/Getty Photographs)
Jimmy’s Downward Spiral
The scores decline started in 2019. And lately, Jimmy persistently finishes third in his time slot, behind rivals Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel.
The host took one other hit in 2023 when a number of staffers accused Jimmy of fostering a poisonous work setting.
Based on a brand new report from Radar On-line, The Tonight Present has misplaced 41 % of its viewers prior to now 5 years.
Jimmy Fallon throughout “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” at Rockefeller Heart on February 17, 2014 in New York Metropolis. (Picture by Theo Wargo/Getty Photographs for The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon)
In response to this decline, NBC has lowered Jimmy from 5 new episodes per week to 4.
And throughout the trade, the scenario is elevating questions on late evening’s most iconic present.
Will Jimmy Fallon Be Fired From ‘The Tonight Show’?
“When Jimmy took The Tonight Show job ten years ago, he insisted on five tapings a week and promised the decision would pay for itself, and it did for the first few years,” one insider tells Radar.
“But today, the number of advertisers willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for commercials has definitely shrunk, and even Jimmy admits that.”
Jimmy Fallon attends the Folks’s Alternative Awards 2018 at Barker Hangar on November 11, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. (Picture by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Photographs)
Based on the supply, Jimmy’s many celeb friendships are retaining him afloat in the intervening time.
“Jimmy does have a knack for getting big guests and coming up with unusual bits. Jimmy also uses his personal connections to music stars to help increase ratings,” says the insider.
“To Jimmy’s credit, The Tonight Show has become Billie Eilish‘s go-to venue to debut new music, and Jimmy still has a lot of favors he can call in from across the music business.”
Jimmy Fallon attends the FYC Occasion For NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” at The WGA Theater on Might 03, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Picture by Frazer Harrison/Getty Photographs)
However will Jimmy’s connections be sufficient to save lots of his job? The supply factors out that his contract extends to 2028, so the beleaguered host has time to show issues round.
Jimmy’s Final Probability?
“It’s not exactly a bleak situation yet,” says the supply.
“The show’s producer, Lorne Michaels, is one of the most powerful people in television, but it’s going to be an uphill battle to grow the audience with an hour less of original content a week.”
Jimmy has already performed some injury management by getting in entrance of the scenario and publicly apologizing to his workers.
Jimmy Fallon attends the FYC Occasion For NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” at The WGA Theater on Might 03, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Picture by Frazer Harrison/Getty Photographs)
“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you,” he stated, after the allegations got here out. “I by no means got down to create that kind of ambiance on the present. I believe generally I’m working with one of the best of one of the best, you guys are the highest of the sport.
“There are issues I’ve performed prior to now which are embarrassing however I by no means mistreated anyone.
“I want this show to be fun, it should be inclusive for everybody, it should be funny, it should be the best show, the best people.”
The PR disaster definitely didn’t do any wonders Jimmy’s repute. And whereas confronted powerful odds earlier than, this is perhaps probably the most troublesome battle of his profession.
