NBC cuts The Tonight Show and Late Night band amid budget issues
- NBC is reducing The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to four nights a week, with reruns on Fridays.
- This decision follows the elimination of the house band from Late Night with Seth Meyers due to budget cuts.
- The changes reflect a broader trend in late-night television as networks adapt to declining viewership and financial pressures.
NBC has decided to reduce the frequency of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon from five nights a week to four, with reruns scheduled for Fridays. This change follows the network's earlier decision to eliminate the house band from Late Night with Seth Meyers, reflecting ongoing budget constraints. The shift comes amid a broader decline in late-night television viewership, prompting networks to implement cost-saving measures. As streaming services and platforms like YouTube continue to impact traditional broadcasting, the financial viability of late-night shows has come under pressure. Eli Janney, associate musical director for Late Night with Seth Meyers, highlighted the challenges faced by the industry, likening the situation to the music industry's struggles with streaming services devaluing music. Despite these challenges, Jimmy Fallon's show was renewed for a run through 2028 earlier this year, indicating NBC's continued investment in the program. Fallon, who took over The Tonight Show in 2014, has expanded his role in late-night television by hosting game shows and publishing books. The decision to cut back on original episodes reflects a trend where competitors like Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Night Show with Stephen Colbert have also reduced their weekly output. This shift in programming is a response to changing viewer habits and the need for networks to adapt to a shrinking market. As the landscape of late-night television evolves, the future of these shows remains uncertain, with ongoing budget cuts and changing audience preferences shaping the industry.