Jay Leno: Is ‘Tonight’ Host Going To FOX?

Late night host Jay Leno will be leaving his post at NBC after 21 years at the "Tonight Show." Replacing Leno is comedian Jimmy Fallon who currently has his own program on the network, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."

It's not the first time late night hosts have played musical chairs: Jay Leno previously retired from the "Tonight Show" and was replaced by Conan O'Brien in 2009. After NBC affiliates voiced their distaste for Leno's new 10 p.m. slot, he was eventually reinstalled at the "Tonight Show," which airs after local news, and O'Brien was sent packing. O'Brien eventually ended up at TBS where he hosts the eponymous late night program, "Conan."

After NBC announced they would replace Jay Leno with Fallon, rumors have been circling regarding whether Jay Leno will retire or whether he will be picked up by another network. CBS seems pretty set in their late night lineup, anchored by David Letterman followed by "Drew Carey Show" alumni Craig Ferguson. Given TBS' setup as a network is already chock full of original and popular rerun programs such as "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Seinfeld," it seems that Conan O'Brien will continue to be the lone talker on the network. ABC also seems content with Jimmy Kimmel as its late night anchor.

So where can Jay Leno go and continue to be highly successful? The new consensus says Fox. Matt Drudge referenced Leno's occasional jaunts into the seldom-visited realm of caricaturing leftist and liberal figures when he tweeted his thoughts.

"Left[s'] cheering Leno exit typical, he dared to entertain and offer jokes for the other 50 [percent] of the country."

Drudge was referencing the fact that Jay Leno is one of the few comics who have a history of directing jokes and one liners at progressive and Democrat leaders like President Obama or Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Leno's opponent David Letterman was criticized by those on the right after he once joked that New York Yankees shortstop Alex Rodriguez impregnated Willow Palin, daughter of former Governor Sarah Palin, R-Alaska, as well as making personal attacks against Gov. Palin. Most of Leno's other competition tend to concentrate political satire on right-wing figures such as George W. Bush.

Some say this unique trait makes the late night host perfect for NewsCorp's television arm. While FOX News Channel's hard coverage is for the most part "fair and balanced," their nightly commentary programs such as "Hannity" tend to be the only conservative television news voice. While Jay Leno is no outspoken conservative, some who have commented on the possible move say Leno is widely accepted in more moderate "middle America."

Since the departure was announced, Jay Leno has been critical on-air of his NBC bosses, at one point comparing them to "snakes" in a joke. Jay Leno's contract with NBC expires in May 2014, and though as the New York Post reports, FOX has been "yearning to get into the late night business," a battle may arise with FOX's local affiliates. Many affiliates air extremely popular syndicated programs like "Seinfeld" and "The Office," and may not want to take a chance on a new format, despite Leno's wide popularity.

Steve Pruett, chairman of FOX's affiliate board told the New York Post that if the "right business plan [was presented], the affiliate board would be interested" in adding Leno to the lineup.