Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Video: Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon Sing Duet About "Tonight Show" Rumors
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 2, 2013
Modified Apr 2, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 2, 2013
Modified Apr 2, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
As rumors heat up that Jimmy Fallon will replace Jay Leno as the Tonight Show host (and the show will move back to NYC), Leno and Fallon turned the chatter into comedy gold bronze. In a segment on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Leno finishes his show and is bombarded with questions about Fallon. Fallon, who has been looking out the window, then gets a call from Leno:
According to the Hollywood Reporter's sources, "[The] musical bit was Fallon's idea. After Leno agreed to do it, Fallon's producers flew to L.A. to film his part in the segment. The collaboration is an important and arguably the first savvy PR step in NBC's late-night saga as it signaled that there are no hard feelings between the two hosts." The pair are singing to the melody of "Tonight, Tonight" from West Side Story—Vulture transcribed the lyrics:
Fallon: Only you, every night you throw to me, Jay Leno. In the news, all they do is say 'I'm replacing you.' They think I can woo the demo.
Leno: So the network says, 'Here's an idea. Pack your bags, take a hike, NBC-ya.'
Fallon: Tonight, tonight, who's gonna host Tonight? Is it gonna be Jimmy or Jay? Tonight, tonight, where will they tape tonight? In New York? Will it stay in LA?
Leno: Tonight, tonight, my ratings were all right. Twenty years, and I'm still in first place. Tonight, tonight, I've got Fox on the line. Or maybe I could take over for Dave?
Both: Tonight, tonight. Why do they say we fight? I like you. You like me. We're okay. Tonight, tonight, who cares who hosts Tonight? We both just want our line the next day.
Anyway, Leno still probably thinks NBC is full of number two.
Tagged
jay leno
jimmy fallon
late night
nbc
tonight show
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 16, 2026
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .