Lorne Michaels, the man behind the 1970s phenomena Saturday Night Live, plans to take NBC’s “Late Night” to the web this fall. According to the Los Angeles Times, Michaels wants new host Jimmy Fallon “to work out as many of the rough spots in his presentation as possible in performances on a website” before current host Conan O’Brien moves to “The Tonight Show.”
One reason for trying out the show online, Mr. Michaels said, is that the Internet will allow Mr. Fallon more freedom in terms of what he can say and do, “more opportunity for experimentation” … But the main reason for the idea, he said, was the experience of Mr. O’Brien, who endured a long period of uncertainty about whether he would survive after he assumed the desk on “Late Night” succeeding David Letterman. “Conan needed time to find his show,” Mr. Michaels said. “I think this will help Jimmy to do that.”
