NBC is giving The Tonight Show a makeover, and it’s not just a new set of pajamas. Starting Friday, September 6, the show’s weekly routine is about to get a serious diet plan. Say goodbye to those Friday night episodes and hello to reruns of Jimmy Fallon’s finest “Oops, did I just say that?” moments.
From now on, The Tonight Show will be cutting down to four new episodes a week. Yep, Jimmy Fallon will be taking Fridays off to do whatever it is people do when they’re not on TV—probably binge-watching other shows and trying to figure out why they’re not on TV anymore.
In a dramatic plot twist, The Tonight Show will now be airing reruns on Fridays. So if you’re still clinging to that Friday night Jimmy fix, you’ll have to settle for a rerun of his most hilarious (or cringe-worthy) moments. And if you’re wondering, The Tonight Show was the last of the major late-night gigs holding onto Friday episodes. Everyone else—Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and Trevor Noah—are already chilling on a four-day schedule.
This radical shift is all about saving face—or, more accurately, saving viewership, which has been slipping like a banana peel over the past few years. But don’t worry, NBC isn’t kicking Jimmy Fallon to the curb just yet. Earlier this year, the network renewed its relationship with Jimmy and The Tonight Show through 2028. That’s right—NBC has officially signed a “we’re in this together” deal that will keep Jimmy’s quirky humor on air for a few more years.
Jimmy took over the hosting gig in February 2014, stepping into the oversized shoes of Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Johnny Carson, Jack Paar, and Steve Allen. So, tune in Monday through Thursday at 11:35/10:35c for your nightly dose of Fallon, and enjoy the reruns on Fridays if you’re really feeling nostalgic!
