Back in April, NBC made it official, announcing that Jimmy Fallon would succeed Jay Leno as The Tonight Show host, beginning next year. Today comes word that Late Night with Jimmy Fallon producer Amy Ozols has been named producer of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which NBC confirms will premiere in February and move from Los Angeles to 30 Rock in New York City.
Lorne Michaels (Saturday Night Live) is set to executive produce the late night talk show, while Ozols will produce.
“Amy Ozols has been with Jimmy since the very beginning of ‘Late Night.’ She is brilliant. I think she is the right choice to lead ‘The Tonight Show’ into the future,” Michaels said.
Not only has Ozols been writing for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon since the series launched in 2009, she also teamed with Fallon to create the short-lived NBC sitcom Guys with Kids. The comedy was officially cancelled by NBC last year, but clearly the network didn't see the comedy's ratings struggles as a reflection on Fallon and Ozols' talents.
Prior to her work with Fallon, Ozols' wrote for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. She's also a Harvard grad. Considering she likely deserves at least some of the credit for the success Fallon has has a late night host - which eventually led to his upcoming promotion to Tonight Show host - it seems fitting to bring her over to his new show. Here's what Fallon had to say about the announcement that she'll be a producer:
“It’s been so fun working with Amy these past four years — she's been a standout writer and producer since we started ‘Late Night.’ She puts so much thought and care into everything she does and we share the same vision about making the best television that we can produce. I know she'll put that same intelligence, cleverness and care into ‘The Tonight Show.’ This is exciting.”
Just for a point of reference, here's one of the Late Night segments that Ozols is credited for writing and producing. The opening sequence to the Game of Thrones parody Game of Desks is well worth applause:
