Emails Show NBC was Looking to Bounce Jay Leno Months Ago

It looks like NBC knew they were going to push Jay Leno out the door months ago.​

Emails show that several months before NBC announced on April 3 it was moving “The Tonight Show” back to New York with Fallon replacing Jay Leno as host, the network and the (NY Governor) Cuomo administration had talks about expanding the state’s film production tax credit program to cover talk and variety shows that relocate from other states.

The emails were obtained by the NY Daily News through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The first message was sent by NBC Albany lobbyist Dan Plummer to a top Cuomo aide on Jan. 18 — four days before Gov. Cuomo quietly included the tax credit plan in his 2013-14 state budget proposal. In the email to Leecia Eve, Cuomo’s deputy secretary for economic development, Plummer asked if it’s “looking like the relocation language will be included in the budget.”

“If you need anything else from us pls let me know,” Plummer wrote.

The subject line read: “NBCU/relocation budget language.”

Eve responded: “Yes. Thanks Dan.”

The emails show that despite continued denials from the Cuomo administration and NBC, the fix appears to have been in for the “Jimmy Fallon tax credit.” But they also show that NBC was long ago looking to kick Leno out and put Fallon in his place.

Read the full Tax Credit story from the NY Daily News