Jimmy Kimmel reacts to NBC scaling back Fallon’s Tonight Show

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 comes amid broader budget cuts affecting late-night television, as networks struggle with declining viewership and the impact of streaming services. Jimmy Kimmel revealed that the late-night hosts have a group text where they congratulated Fallon on having Fridays off, highlighting a sense of camaraderie among them despite the competitive nature of their shows. Kimmel's comments at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards suggested a grim outlook for the future of late-night television, as he remarked on the challenges facing the industry. The decline in viewership has prompted networks to implement cost-saving measures, which have included eliminating house bands and reducing the number of new episodes. Eli Janney, associate musical director for Late Night with Seth Meyers, noted that the financial struggles of streaming platforms have also contributed to the tightening of budgets across the board. He compared the situation to the music industry’s shift towards streaming, which has devalued music and led to reduced revenue for artists. Despite these challenges, Fallon’s show was renewed by NBC earlier this year, ensuring its continuation through 2028. Fallon, who took over hosting duties in 2014 from Jay Leno, has maintained a competitive edge by producing new episodes on Fridays, a practice that will now come to an end with the new schedule.