NBC Cuts Back Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show to Four Nights per Week

NBC has officially reduced The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon from airing five nights a week to four starting in the fall of 2024. The long-standing talk show, known for its Monday through Friday episodes, will now only have fresh episodes from Monday through Thursday, with reruns airing on Fridays. This change is significant for the show, having been part of late-night TV since its launch in 1954.

This decision comes as late-night TV viewership declines across the industry due to audiences shifting towards streaming platforms. Major late-night shows like The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel Live! have also trimmed down their schedules to four nights a week to adapt to changing viewer patterns. Fallon’s Tonight Show was one of the last to air five nights a week.

Not Funny: NBC Cuts Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Tonight Show’ to Four Nights a Week

I miss Johnny Carson!!!! https://t.co/7eNMOslL7Z

— Hawaii 5-0 (@hawaii_js) September 10, 2024

While budget constraints have impacted NBC’s late-night lineup, such as removing the live band from Late Night with Seth Meyers, Fallon’s contract has been extended until 2028. NBC executives state that the reduction of weekly episodes is part of broader cost-saving strategies and does not reflect on Fallon’s popularity or the show’s future.

Despite these alterations, the 49-year-old Fallon will persist in his hosting duties and focus on providing fresh content for the show’s devoted viewers.

I unplugged years ago but saw this article & laughed. commercials that pretend to be tv shows continue their slide into obscurity. WHO watches this crap?

Not Funny: NBC Cuts Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Tonight Show’ to Four Nights a Week https://t.co/KRkqVR35ml via @BreitbartNews

— Rebecca Pickens (@rebepick) September 10, 2024

The adjustment to four nights a week aligns The Tonight Show with its competitors, as networks confront dwindling traditional TV audiences. NBC’s move highlights the struggles faced by broadcast networks in navigating the changing media landscape dominated by streaming services like Netflix and YouTube. With more viewers opting for on-demand content, traditional TV ratings have plunged, putting pressure on shows dependent on live viewership.

Despite these industry-wide transformations, Fallon’s Tonight Show continues to draw substantial viewership, especially in the 18-49 age group. NBC notes that the show ranks second in this crucial demographic and third overall among late-night programs, averaging 1.4 million total viewers per episode.

This recent change follows a challenging year for Fallon, who was accused of fostering a hostile work environment at The Tonight Show. In a report earlier in 2024, current and former employees alleged Fallon’s erratic behavior behind the scenes, a matter the comedian later addressed with an apology to his staff. However, these controversies have not shaken NBC’s trust in Fallon as the face of its primary late-night program.

As the late-night TV landscape evolves, NBC’s decision demonstrates that even its most iconic shows are affected by the pressures of modern media consumption. Nonetheless, with Fallon’s contract secured for several more years, it seems the network is dedicated to continuing the show—and its host—in the late-night lineup for the foreseeable future.