Seth Meyers Will Replace Jimmy Fallon As ‘Late Night’ Host

As long rumored, Seth Meyers of Saturday Night Live will indeed replace Jimmy Fallon as the new host of Late Night in 2014.

The show airs at 12:35 am Eastern time Monday through Friday. As everyone knows, Fallon is taking over Jay Leno’s role on the Tonight Show.

Meyers has been the SNL head writer for eight seasons and “Weekend Update” anchor for seven. He’s been with the show for 12 seasons overall. Both SNL and Late Night are executive produced by Lorne Michaels. Meyers is expected to return to SNL next season and then officially take over the Late Night hosting duties in February 2014.

Meyers will become the show’s fourth host since its 1982 debut. His predecessors in order were David Letter, Conan O’Brien, and Fallon.

With the news of his new gig official, Meyers quipped that “I only have to work for Lorne for five more years before I pay him back for the time I totaled his car. 12:30 on NBC has long been incredible real estate. I hope I can do it justice.”

With regard to the long-running NBC show’s legacy, Meyers said that “I am aware of the history. Each chapter of my life has sort of been spent enjoying each of the guys who had the job. Letterman was sort of my first introduction to late-night television. And Conan was all through college and postcollege years. Jimmy, obviously, I think, does it as well as anyone could ever do it.”

NBC Entertainment boss Bob Greenblatt has this to say about Seth Meyers being named as Late Night host: “We think Seth is one of the brightest, most insightful comedy writers and performers of his generation. His years at SNL‘s Weekend Update desk, not to mention being head writer of the show for many seasons, helped him hone a topical brand of comedy that is perfect for the Late Night franchise.”

No decisions have yet been made as to whether the transition to Seth Meyers will bring about any format changes to Late Night.

Do you think that Seth Meyers’ tenure as host of Late Night will be successful?