NBC has officially cut back The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon from five nights a week to four, starting in the fall of 2024. The long-running talk show, which originally aired new episodes Monday through Friday, will now feature new episodes only Monday through Thursday, with reruns filling the Friday slot. This marks a significant shift for the program, which has been a staple of late-night television since its inception in 1954.
The decision comes amid declining viewership for late-night TV in general, a trend seen across the industry as audiences increasingly migrate to streaming platforms. Other major late-night shows, including The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, have also reduced their schedules to four nights a week in response to changing viewer habits. 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 cuts have impacted NBC's late-night programming, including the elimination of the live band from Late Night with Seth Meyers, Fallon's contract has been extended through 2028. NBC executives emphasize that the reduction in weekly episodes is part of broader cost-saving measures and does not reflect on Fallon’s popularity or the show's long-term prospects.
Despite the changes, Fallon, 49, will continue his hosting duties and remains committed to delivering fresh content for the show's loyal fanbase.
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 shift to four nights a week also aligns The Tonight Show with its competitors, as networks grapple with shrinking traditional TV audiences. NBC's decision underscores the challenges facing broadcast networks as they try to navigate the evolving media landscape, where streaming services like Netflix and YouTube dominate viewership. As more audiences opt for on-demand content, traditional TV ratings have plummeted, putting pressure on shows that rely on live viewership.
Despite these industry-wide changes, Fallon's Tonight Show continues to attract significant viewership, especially in the 18-49 demographic. NBC reports that the show remains second in this key demographic and third overall among late-night programs, with an average of 1.4 million total viewers per episode.
This latest move comes after a difficult year for Fallon, who faced accusations of fostering a toxic workplace environment at The Tonight Show. In a report published earlier in 2024, current and former employees accused Fallon of erratic behavior behind the scenes, claims that the comedian later addressed with an apology to his staff. However, these controversies have done little to shake NBC's confidence in Fallon as the face of its flagship late-night program.
As the landscape of late-night television continues to evolve, NBC’s decision signals that even its most iconic shows are not immune to the pressures of modern media consumption. However, with Fallon's contract secured for several more years, it appears the network is committed to keeping the show—and its host—in the late-night lineup for the foreseeable future.
