Jim Bell, who has served as showrunner on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” for the past year, is stepping down, and Gavin Purcell, who recently signed a deal with Universal Television, has been named interim showrunner.
Bell also is leaving NBC after a tenure that spanned almost three decades and included stints as president, NBC Olympics Production & Programming and executive producer of “Today.” Purcell was previously a producer on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and recently served as showrunner on Sarah Silverman’s Hulu talk show “I Love You America.”
The shakeup comes as “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” continues to lag behind surging “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in the era of President Donald Trump dominated by political humor.
Bell’s statement follows below:
Last fall, after executive producing a successful Winter Olympics in South Korea and the men’s World Cup tournament in Russia, the company asked me if I would become the executive in charge of production for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” while I was also preparing for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. As has been the case for my nearly 30 years at NBC, I said yes to their request, adding only that I would commit for a year and we would review the situation at that time.
The past year with Jimmy and the terrific team at the show has been a blast, and I will always be grateful for this opportunity. But after serious contemplation, I realized I did not want to extend my time at the show. Those thoughts are part of larger ones I have been having about my career, and what has emerged for me is a strong desire to delve into something new — to build on my experience in news, sports, and entertainment so I can broaden and deepen my leadership role in the content universe. Along with my Olympic colleagues, we have positioned NBC Sports for an incredible Summer Olympics next year, and so I believe the timing is perfect for me to forge a new path. I will always look back on my years at NBC as an extraordinary chapter in my life, and thank the many talented individuals who have joined me in truly meaningful work around the globe. Right now I am looking forward to a great show in Texas.
“Jim’s imprint at ‘The Tonight Show’ was substantial and will be long-lasting,” said George Cheeks, vice chairman, NBCUniversal Content Studios, and who oversees late night for NBC Entertainment. “With his decades of production expertise, Jim was able to elevate our live telecasts to new heights and took ‘Tonight’ on the road and delivered shows that raised the bar. We wish him nothing but the best moving forward and thank him for his contributions.”
Before joining “Tonight Show” in October 2018, Bell was president, NBC Olympics Production & Programming, a post he has held since January 2017. He spent seven years (2005-12) as executive producer of “Today” while also juggling Olympic duties before rejoining NBC Sports full-time. He presided over the last stretch of “Today” morning ratings dominance, which included the controversial ouster of co-host Ann Curry, and successfully launched the fourth hour of the morning news program.