Will The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Get Canceled Next? The Latest In Late Night’s Changing Landscape

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A cursory look at the 2025 TV guide might not reveal the dynamic shifts happening in late-night talk shows, but recent news articles are quite explicit about the turbulence. CBS terminated The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which led its host (also known from South Park) to lash out at Paramount Global, his parent company, over their merger with Skydance Media. Other hosts, such as Jimmy Fallon, seem to be under potential threat as well.

It appears that the continuity of “The Tonight Show” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” both being part of NBCUniversal, seems assured for now since they are not affiliated with Paramount. However, given Seth Meyers’ aggressive approach to political satire similar to Stephen Colbert, while Jimmy Fallon tends to take a more lighthearted stance, there’s a question about whether the entire late-night television landscape might experience a significant shift before Donald Trump leaves office again.

Why The Tonight Show And Late Night Are Likely Safe (For Now)

Approximately a year prior to the decision by CBS’ Late Show, both Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon negotiated contract renewals. As long as there aren’t significant disagreements, they will continue hosting their shows for several more years. In May 2024, Meyers extended his contract to remain as host of Late Night until 2028. Additionally, he also expanded the overall deal between his and Mike Shoemaker’s production company, Sethmaker Shoemeyers, with Universal Studio Group.

In June 2024, Fallon renewed a deal that ensures “The Tonight Show” continues until at least 2028. At that time, the veteran of “SNL” expressed his ambitious wish to stay in late-night television for as long as Johnny Carson, who held the position on “The Tonight Show” for an impressive 30 years. However, it’s important to note that both these extensions were agreed upon before Donald Trump resumed his presidency and started suing TV networks.

Ranking Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel And All The Other Current Late Night Hosts

Jimmy Fallon’s future as a late-night host seems secure because he’s also involved in some of NBC’s current and upcoming unscripted prime-time shows. He serves as an executive producer on the newly launched game show “Password,” hosted by Martin Short, where he will also appear on celebrity panels.

Additionally, he is hosting a new reality competition series titled “On Brand with Jimmy Fallon“, where marketing experts face off against each other in consumer-oriented challenges such as crafting commercial jingles, designing products, and more. The show is set to premiere in the fall and will be broadcast every Tuesday and Friday evening.

Why Some Are Still Worried About The Tonight Show And Late Night’s Futures

It seems the primary concern might stem from the realization that what appears to be permanently established (like _The Late Show_) can unexpectedly change. This uncertainty isn’t limited to the fate of other programs; it’s also about the broader implications, which is causing apprehension.

Among the reasons cited for CBS and Paramount’s decision to cancel The Late Show, one significant factor is the show’s perceived financial struggles. Unlike Fallon, Meyers, and Jimmy Kimmel’s shows on NBC, Colbert doesn’t generate viral social media content that attracts additional viewers and advertisers. However, it’s important to note that even though these NBC shows have an edge due to their viral content, they too experienced budget cuts after contract extensions were signed in 2024.

According to an inside source, it was around this time that NBC reduced the number of episodes for The Tonight Show, with Jimmy Fallon no longer taping shows five days a week.

Last year, Seth and Jimmy experienced budget reductions, leading to Jimmy working four days a week instead of five. He records episodes from Monday to Thursday, with the show being rebroadcast on Fridays.

Additionally, it was announced in 2024 that the band members on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” led by Fred Armisen, would be let go as a means of cutting costs. These moves seemed adequate to keep both shows running smoothly at the time, but for how long will this balance last before producers need to make further budget cuts and eliminate other aspects?

In the current scenario, it’s worth noting that Donald Trump’s impact and fury have predominantly focused on CBS and Paramount in the past few weeks. However, should this focus shift towards NBCUniversal, there’s a chance that the actions taken by its executives could result in challenging decisions regarding their two late-night mainstays.

Despite the upcoming end of “The Late Show” in 2026 causing sorrow among Colbert’s friends, colleagues, and current team, there seems to be no better moment than now to rejoice, as everything appears safe for the time being.

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2025-08-05 18:38