Alex Carson
Did you know that Jimmy Kimmel once publicly mocked Jay Leno on his own show during the height of The Tonight Show controversy? Or that Leno nearly left NBC for ABC, only to leave Jimmy Kimmel hanging in the process?
▬Contents of this video▬
00:00 – Intro
01:18 – Leno’s First Exit and the Tonight Show Succession Crisis
03:25 – Kimmel’s Feud with Leno and the ABC Dilemma
05:16 – The Final Push: NBC’s Decision to Fire Leno for Good
07:03 – Leno’s Apology to Kimmel and the Legacy of the Tonight Show Drama
08:32 – Leno’s Complicated Relationship with David Letterman
10:36 – The Changing Landscape of Late-Night Television
11:35 – Outro
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The drama surrounding Jay Leno’s exit from The Tonight Show remains one of the most infamous chapters in late-night history. Initially stepping down in 2009 to make way for Conan O’Brien, Leno’s quick return led to a media firestorm and divided audiences. But beyond his well-documented feud with O’Brien, another late-night host was caught in the crossfire—Jimmy Kimmel. For years, Kimmel has been outspoken about his distaste for how Leno handled his exit and return, even confronting him directly on national television in a tense exchange that shocked audiences.
While Leno’s departure and eventual firing were largely shaped by network politics and declining traditional ratings, the personal rivalries that fueled the drama made the situation even more complex. Kimmel, a longtime admirer of David Letterman, saw Leno’s behind-the-scenes maneuvers as a betrayal of the integrity of late-night television. His criticisms of Leno weren’t just about personal grievances—they reflected a larger shift in late-night’s power structure, where hosts who embraced digital media and viral content were rising to prominence.
In this video, we take a deep dive into Kimmel’s role in The Tonight Show saga, Leno’s near-defection to ABC, and the network decisions that ultimately led to Leno’s firing for good in 2014. With late-night television evolving and networks seeking fresh, younger hosts to capture online audiences, NBC made a bold move in pushing out Leno for Jimmy Fallon, signaling a shift toward a more digital-friendly era of comedy. But was it the right call, or did NBC miscalculate the changing landscape of television?
Explore the behind-the-scenes maneuvering, the late-night feuds, and the moments that defined one of television’s biggest shake-ups, as we unpack the real reason Jay Leno was forced out of The Tonight Show for good.
Jimmy Kimmel Reveals Why Jay Leno was Fired
