The big late night rumor is now a fact: The Tonight Show is making its way back to New York. TV Newser reports that Jimmy Fallon is going to take over for Jay Leno next year, and NBC will be letting everyone know with special promotions during the 2014 Olympic games.

As part of that change, the Tonight Show is moving from California to here. A new studio in 30 Rock is currently being built for Fallon, in the same space that Tonight Show host Steve Allen once used.

Jimmy Kimmel, Fallon’s soon-to-be competitor in the 11:35 pm slot, saluted Fallon. “Congratulations to my dear, sweet @jimmyfallon – a formidable rival and an incredible lover,” tweeted Kimmel. Hahaha! Two guys loving each other is so silly and weird!

For more on this story, head over to TVNewser.

The Tonight Show has been an NBC staple since 1954. For the first 18 years of its existence, Tonight was recorded in Rockefeller Center beginning with original host Steve Allen. In 1972, Johnny Carson, already a decade on the job, brought the Tonight Show to Burbank, California, and with it all the stars Hollywood could offer.

Now a pair of bold moves are reportedly set for the once vital franchise that would bring the show “home.”

There have been rumors for weeks, if not months, regarding current Tonight host Jay Leno‘s status. The New York Times‘ Bill Carter says Late Night host Jimmy Fallon is expected to get the coveted promotion by the fall of 2014. But Carter also reports Fallon will take the Tonight Show back to New York. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is broadcast from 30 Rock.

The Times quotes a senior executive saying, “There is no way on earth that this is not going to happen.”

Photo credit: treehugger.com

So the week of nail-biting is over, and Conan O’Brien is signing off as host of “The Tonight Show”… well, tonight. Fans are not the only ones sad to see CoCo go: both NBC and Jay Leno are doing major damage control to try and spin all the ill-will they’ve garnered lately for muscling Conan out of the 11:35 slot.

First stop on Jay’s “I’m sorry America” tour? “Oprah,” then the White House.

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In the latest issue of GQ, Jay Leno talks about his decision to stay at NBC, moving to the 10 p.m. time slot and his relationship with David Letterman. Some highlights:

Q [deputy editor Michael Hainey]: There’s a scene in The Late Shift where Jack Welch of GE gives you the edge over Dave [Letterman] for The Tonight Show because of your “loyalty.” You’re being loyal again to NBC.”
A: Yeah, it’s a gamble.
Q: Do you worry loyalty this time could be taking you to a not good place?
A: It’s worked fine up until this point. I’ve never argued about money. Dave makes a lot more than I do. Way more. And I’m number one. But that’s okaaaay. How much pie can you eat?

And then there’s the whole dust up with Letterman:

Q: I heard that you wrote Dave a letter, after he had his open-heart surgery.
A: Mmm-hmm.
Q: What was in the letter?
A: Oh, just how funny I thought he was and how I owed him a lot. How important he was to me and all that.
Q: Did he respond?
A: Uh, no.
Q: Really?
A: But that’s okay. Where’d you hear that?
Q: That’s not okay.
A: Well, it’s not okay, but fine. What do you do, you know? I don’t know if he ever got it.
Q: It’s weirdly heartless.
A. I don’t know if he ever got it. He might not ever have gotten it. A middling might’ve said, “I don’t want to show this to Dave. It’ll upset him,” and thrown it away, so I don’t know. Ever talk to Dave?
Q: Ah, no.
A: Dave’s a great guy.
Q: Your relationship is a movie.
A: Well, it was a bad movie. That stupid Late Shift movie.
Q: Do you think you two will ever come around?
A: I hope so!

If you want our opinion, the best take on Leno’s 10 p.m. can be found on Bill Simmons‘ March 19th podcast with former Rolling Stone executive editor and GQ features editor Jason Gay. Simmons, who wrote for the Jimmy Kimmel Show offers an interesting take on why Leno will be back on late night soon. Just listen.