The real winner here is Lorne Michaels, who now controls all three NBC late night shows. NBC completed its late-night revamp by naming Seth Meyers host of Late Night. He will succeed Jimmy Fallon who is taking over The Tonight Show next spring, replacing Jay Leno. Michaels will executive produce Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Michael Shoemaker will remain with the franchise as producer. Late Night with Seth Meyers will originate from 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York which also houses Saturday Night Live and where The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon also will be based. “We think Seth is one of the brightest, most insightful comedy writers and performers of his generation,” NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt said. “His years at SNL‘s Weekend Update desk, not to mention being head writer of the show for many seasons, helped him hone a topical brand of comedy that is perfect for the Late Night franchise”. Meyers had been the frontrunner to succeed Fallon since NBC announced last month Fallon’s ascendance to The Tonight Show. His appointment means that both The Tonight Show and Late Night will be hosted by former SNL Weekend Update anchors. Additionally, it solidifies Michaels’ status as NBC’s late-night king as he will executive produce The Tonight Show, Late Night and SNL. “I only have to work for Lorne for five more years before I pay him back for the time I totaled his car,” Meyers quipped. “The time slot 12:30 on NBC has long been incredible real estate. I hope I can do it justice/” Meyers is the 4th host of Late Night, following David Letterman, Conan O’Brien and Fallon.
Related: Lorne Michaels: The Real NBC Late Night King
In addition to setting new hosts on Tonight and Late Night, NBC also recently renewed Last Call With Carson Daly for next season. This is Meyers’ 12th season as an SNL cast member, 8th season as head writer, and 7th season as Weekend Update anchor. He will have to leave to focus on Late Night, meaning that next week’s SNL season finale will likely mark Meyers’ last turn behind the Weekend Update desk. Given the incredible success all recent anchors/co-anchors of Weekend Update – Fallon, Meyers, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler – have enjoyed, the competition for who will succeed Meyers is likely to be fierce.
In 2011, Meyers won the Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for host Justin Timberlake’s musical monologue. He has also garnered five additional Emmy nominations for his work as a writer on SNL and the 2011 special The Real Women of SNL. Meyers has hosted the 2010 and 2011 ESPY Awards on ESPN and headlined the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner to rave reviews.
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Does this mean he’ll no longer be head writer of SNL? I wonder who will replace him.
Who cares? SNL has nowhere to go but up now that Seth is GONE
I am so happy Seth is going to 12:30, now I NEVER have to see him again.
Amen Justin. Last night’s disaster was a case in point. Anyone they get as new head writer will be a major improvement over Meyers.
“Anyone they get as new head writer will be a major improvement over Meyers.” FAMOUS LAST WORDS.
Colin Jost is already head writer.
So, Sunday night is the only night of the week Lorne Michaels will not control on NBC.
Why not just give Meyers the Tonight Show and cut out the middle man?
AGREED, Debbie Downer.
Seth will offer some interesting back and forth with guests… a skill that has eluded the boyish, inept Fallon.
JOHN MULANEY FOR WEEKEND UPDATE ANCHOR/ NEW HEAD WRITER!!!
I second that – John is incredibly funny and NBC passed on his pilot – BOOO!
This! Best idea I’ve heard in some time!
Mulaney’s been on Weekend Update a few times and bombed. What makes you think he can carry an entire show?
And the demise of NBC’s late night is now complete. Just glad that Johnny Carson isn’t alive to watch this happen.
Seth Myers? Really? Virtually unfunny and bitter. There had to be someone far better available but Michaels can only stomach those from his cult.
Yawn…agreed!
Yep. Seth Meyers is the Jimmy Fallon of late night. Oh wait…
NBC abandons Los Angeles for warmed over nightly SNL Kimmel and Ferguson will use this advantage to run right over NBC’s pipe dream.
Boring
Bleh, Bleh and Bleh.
Great, just what we need more Bland white-bread, unfunny, men on TV.
Lol…Exactly
Go Craig Ferguson!! Because Seth Meyers is extremely hard to watch. Extremely. But its good – Craig deserves it!
Not psyched about this but I’ll wait till I actually see the show before I pass judgement.
I have to admit, this line had me laughing: “I only have to work for Lorne for five more years before I pay him back for the time I totaled his car.”
Honestly? That’s the sort of hack-y line that I think a big-time comedian or witty person would never say.
Welcome to Guest Wars starring Letterman, Fallon and Meyers. The winners? Kimmel and Ferguson.
Right you are. Congrats Craig Ferguson! Love him….
Seth Myers is a smug, unfunny, prick. Seeing as that SNL is total garbage I’m guessing that Late Night is going to suck too.
Perhaps before you defame someone you can learn how to spell their name.
You’re a moron.
Another boring White guy who looks like all the other White guys in late night… Good to see NBC embracing the future and being so forward thinking about how the audience on changing. In there not one ethnic minority or female worthy of this mantle in the middle of the night?
SB
Great point and of course there are…sadly, none of them work for Lorne Michaels so why look beyond the same pool of tepid talent when you can just churn out more of the same? Let’s be honest, COMEDY CENTRAL is the whitest network out there but at least shows like THE DAILY SHOW and THE COLBERT REPORT are genuinely smart and funny. If Kenan Thompson is the best NBC/SNL can do we are all in trouble. It’s high time for something different late at night (where nets SHOULD be experimenting) but they don’t. NBC is especially terrified because their ratings are so poor. SNL stinks out loud but people still watch and advertisers still buy spots so that’s the limited talent pool they will keep drawing from.
Can hardly get through his 15 weekly minutes on SNL. Can’t imagine an hour of him — much less 5 nights a week.
it would suck biiig time…Seth is egoistic and just shouldn’t be on 5 times a week
I would leave head writer off my resume considering how terrible the show has been last few years.
Congrats Ferfig. You win!
Seth Meyers is a great pick. Genuinely funny and good writer as well as a warm and thoughtful host. His co-hosting work on Live with Kelly was impressive. Can’t wait to see him host a show with a bit more edge.
And let’s get DEATH GRIPS as his house band.
Agreed, Meyers is a great satirist.
And let the speculation begin as to whom will get Weekend Update… I don’t know who watches Daly.. He’s among the most boring people I’ve ever seen host. The one weak link on the Voice
The real winner is Lorne, who now controls all of the late night slots at NBC, Monday through Saturday, as he’ll have executive control over The Tonight Show, Late Show, and SNL
Horrible choice.
Congrats to Seth, he deserves it… however, I disagree that the Weekend Update chair is a golden ticket to the big leagues. They’ve had some fantastic talent sitting in it lately, but does anybody remember Kevin Nealon? Or Colin Quinn?
Replacing Meyers will not be difficult. Craig Ferguson has to be liking this.
Keenan Thompson or Bill Hader will replace Seth at news desk.
Bill Hader or Taran Killam for Weekend Update anchor.
I can’t stay up late at night but I would make a real effort if a woman was given a shot. I am beginning to think that the only comedians in the universe are white men. Time for a funny lady–I’m sure there’s at least 1 out there.
RIP NBC Late Night, I hardly knew thee.
Way to go Seth! Very soon, all of America will see what your main talent is — being a less funny, less likable, less talented Norm MacDonald!