Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon to Give Joint ‘Today’ Interview

Leno and his “Tonight Show” successor Fallon sit down with Matt Lauer

Getty Images

Brace yourselves: Jay Leno, current host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” and Jimmy Fallon, future host of “Tonight Show,” will give their first joint interview on … wait for it … NBC’s “Today” show.

Leno and Fallon sat down with “Today” host Matt Lauer for an interview that’s scheduled to air Monday on the NBC morning show to talk about the transition, NBC — which airs both “The Tonight Show” and “Today” — said Friday.

See video: Jay Leno on ‘Tonight Show’ Ouster: ‘I Was Blindsided’; Compares Jimmy Fallon to Johnny Carson

“Sincere and engaging, Leno and Fallon open up to Lauer about the legacy of ‘The Tonight Show’ and how they have handled the passing of the mic,” NBC said of the face-to-face-to-face. “They also discuss the fraternity of late-night comedians and what they do to keep tabs on one another.”

Fallon takes over the “Tonight Show” reins Feb. 17, with his fellow “Saturday Night Live” vet Seth Meyers taking over his spot on “Late Night.”

See video: Michelle Obama to Guest on Debut Week of ‘Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’

In an interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes” scheduled to air Sunday night, Leno said that he was “blindsided” by his 2009 ouster from “Tonight,” when he was briefly replaced by Conan O’Brien.

“I was blindsided … [NBC executives said] ‘You’re out … ‘ and I went ‘OK,’” Leno said, comparing the situation to a romantic split. “You know, you have a girl [who]  says, ‘I don’t want to see you anymore.’ Why? You know, she doesn’t want to see you anymore, OK?”

Comments