In a move that is sure to thrill Carson Daly, ex-Saturday Night Live star Jimmy Fallon is close to signing a long-term development deal with NBC that could eventually place Fallon in Conan O'Brien's 12:30AM seat.

Daly, this week celebrating his fifth year as host of Last Call — the underrated show on after Conan at 1:30, has been publicly jockeying for consideration for Conan's slot once the red-haired funnyman takes over for Jay Leno on the Tonight Show in 2009.

Fallon, coincidentally, was a guest on Conan last night, though nothing about the deal came up on the air.