Reports that Jimmy Fallon is taking over The Tonight Show and moving it back to New York is just the latest drama to unfold at the long-running late night show. INSIDE EDITION takes a look.
Turmoil is nothing new to The Tonight Show, and Jay Leno in particular.
The show's storied history began in 1954, with Steve Allen hosting. Jack Paar took over in 1957, and the legendary Johnny Carson began his 30-year reign in 1962.
The first major jolt The Tonight Show experienced was when Carson moved the show from New York to California in 1972.
Matt Roush of TV Guide told INSIDE EDITION, "Johnny Carson decided to move it out west, because there'd be more access to TV personalities and stars."
It's been in California ever since and on the show's 50th anniversary in 2004, Jay Leno announced that Conan O'Brien would succeed him in five years.
"Conan, it's yours. See you in five years buddy," said Leno.
O'Brien got the job in 2009, but less than a year later he was out, and he blamed Leno for wanting to come back.
O'Brien said on his show, "You can do anything you want in life, unless Jay Leno wants to do it too."
The Hollywood Reporter staff editor Sophie Schillaci told INSIDE EDITION, "It created a lot of drama when they brought Leno back into the fold."
It wasn't Jay Leno's first bitter rivalry for The Tonight Show job.
When Johnny Carson retired in 1992, many assumed the job would go to David Letterman, who a frequent guest host. But the job went to Leno and Letterman moved to CBS for his own successful run, which is still going strong.
Schillaci said, "There's been a memorable feud between Letterman and Leno for many years stemming from when Johnny Carson stepped down."
And now, with a new host on the way and a move back to New York in the works, it seems The Tonight Show is coming full circle.
"Turmoil has always been present in The Tonight Show," said Schillaci.
