Wednesday's announcement that Jay Leno would be stepping down from "The Tonight Show" hosting duties on NBC to make room for "Late Night's" Jimmy Fallon in Spring 2014 clearly had the staffs of every late night show scrambling to rewrite their opening monologues -- because everyone had something to say!

First, there was the back-patting; this transition is being done with an air of friendliness that did not necessarily characterize the one that brought Conan O'Brien into "Tonight's" seat for a few months in 2009.

"He is a hell of a guy!" said Leno last night to his audience about Fallon. "He's going to do a great job. I just have one request for Jimmy: We've all fought, kicked and scratched to get this network up to fifth place. Now we have to keep it there! Jimmy, don't let it slip into sixth! We are counting on you."

Over at "Late Night," Fallon acknowledged that his shift was the big news of the day: "Hello! Welcome!" he began. "This is 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon' -- for now," he said. "You guys probably heard the news -- I’m going to be taking over 'The Tonight Show' next February! But don't worry. Until February, our focus is right here on whatever this show is called."

Added Fallon, "I want to thank everyone here at 'Late Night,' the staff, the crew and, of course, The Roots. I have to say thanks to Jay Leno for being so gracious. It means so much to me to have his support. I just want to thank the fans for staying up to 12:35 a.m. and watching us." 

Over on the other networks, former "Late Night" host David Letterman played up the story for laughs on CBS' "Late Show." Letterman was notoriously angered not to have been offered the "Tonight" show gig himself in 1992 when Leno was tapped, and that feud hasn't faded over the last 22 years. 

"I got a call from my mom today," said Letterman, who also devoted his Top 10 list to Leno. "She says, 'Well, David, I see you didn't get 'The Tonight Show' again."

Leno wasn't about to let it go unsaid, either, quipping, "Folks, I got to be honest with you, I had a really awkward day today," he said in the opening. "I had to call David Letterman and tell him he didn't get 'The Tonight Show' again. Awful! Terrible!"

The Hollywood Reporter noted that Letterman also referenced the O'Brien issue, questioning not Fallon but the choice to make another switch: "Didn’t we just go through this?" he said. "Jay Leno now is being replaced, and this is the second time this has happened. I mean, it’s crazy. He’s being replaced by a younger late-night talk show host -- what could possibly go wrong? Honestly. They had pretty good luck with this in the past."

Speaking of O'Brien, he also addressed the topic around the 30-minute mark of his TBS show "Conan." "I want to congratulate Jimmy. That is a really fun gig." His audience laughed, and he followed up: "You laugh, he said, but it really is. Jimmy is the perfect guy to do it. ... He's going to do a fantastic job. So congratulations, Jimmy."

The one broadcast late night host who doesn't have any dog in this race, Jimmy Kimmel, also had something to say. 

"It is a big one for the world of late-night television," said Kimmel in his "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" monologue on ABC, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "As you probably heard -- it was announced officially today -- that, starting in February of next year -- after the Olympics -- I will take over as new host of 'The Tonight Show.' I spoke to Jay on the phone today." A member of his staff interrupted. "Excuse me for one moment. ... OK. Um, apparently it was a different Jimmy."

He read one of the headlines about the changeup on his cell phone and added, "Turns out I will not be hosting 'The Tonight Show.' Does anyone know what the return policy is on yachts?"

In the end, though, it was largely friendly banter and Fallon's ascension to the throne (which will move, along with the show, to New York City), seems to have gone over well. But Leno had one last warning: "NBC says in five years, they plan to replace Jimmy with Justin Bieber," he said. "They are moving too quickly!"

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Updated 3:30 p.m. ET: It's official: Jimmy Fallon is replacing Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" in spring 2014.

"Congratulations Jimmy," Leno offered on Wednesday. "I hope you're as lucky as me and hold on to the job until you're the old guy," joked the silver-haired car aficionado. "If you need me, I'll be at the garage."

Fallon, the former "Saturday Night Live" cast member who has made a successful transition to daily TV as the current host of "Late Night," quipped about his time-slot bump from 12:35 a.m. to the 11 p.m. hour. 

"I'm really excited to host a show that starts today instead of tomorrow," Fallon said.

The announcement ends weeks of speculation that there would be changes in the late night landscape, but unlike many television shakeups, this one seems poised for a smooth transition. For starters, Fallon clearly has his predecessor's blessing.

Furthermore, Fallon isn't going to have to uproot his franchise in order to take it to a "Tonight Show" stage -- the show is moving from Los Angeles to New York City. The talker will set up shop in its original home, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where Fallon currently tapes "Late Night."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg cheered the news in separate press releases, citing a "surge" in production of film and television shows in the state and city. Both welcomed Fallon at the helm of "Tonight," calling him a "native son."

"The original 'Tonight Show' ushered in the modern era of television, broadcast here from New York," Cuomo said. "It is only fitting that as 'The Tonight Show' returns to our state, it will be headlined by New York's own native son and resident, Jimmy Fallon."

Fallon, 38, will also be reuniting with "Saturday Night Live's" Lorne Michaels, who will become executive producer of "The Tonight Show."

Slideshow: Jimmy Fallon's 'Late Night' hits

Tracy Leeds / NBC

Launch slideshow

Leno, 62, has hosted the "The Tonight Show" since 1992, when he took over for Johnny Carson (with the exception of a controversial seven-month replacement by Conan O'Brien in 2009). This marks the end of an era for the comic, but it's one that will be highlighted by the rare fact that he's going out on top.

Over the years, the popular host scored interview subjects as wide-ranging as President Barack Obama (first sitting president to do late night) to actor Hugh Grant ("I did a bad thing" with Divine Brown). And his comedy skits attempted to pick up where Carson left off, most notably with his nod to goofy headlines and his man-on-the-street favorite, "Jaywalking."

The Tonight Show" is No. 1 in the ratings, and Leno's place in late-night history is cemented.

"Jay Leno is an entertainment icon, making millions of people laugh every weeknight for more than 20 years," said Steve Burke, Chief Executive Officer of NBCUniversal. "His long reign as the highest-rated late-night host is a testament to his work ethic and dedication to his viewers and to NBC."

NBC said an announcement about its programming plans for the 12:35 a.m. time period will be coming "soon," but rumors are swirling that Fallon's fellow "SNL" "Weekend Update" host Seth Meyers is on deck to replace him.

Slideshow: Night people

When the stars come out at night, they flock to the sofas of TV's talk shows. Here are the hosts America has lost sleep over.

Launch slideshow

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Ever since the rumor mill began churning with speculation over the fate of Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" and his (rumored!) potential successor Jimmy Fallon (of "Late Night") the pair have not yet addressed the controversy together.

Until Monday night, when during "Late Night" Leno and Fallon shared a full-throated duet set to the "West Side Story" song "Tonight."

"I've been through this before. I'll admit I'm a little sick of this," Leno told Fallon before the song began. The pair acknowledged their friendship, then launched into song. 

"In the news all they say is I'm replacing you; they think I can woo the demo," sang Fallon.

"Tonight, tonight, I've got Fox on the line, or maybe I could take over for Dave (Letterman)," returned Leno.

(Note: While both hosts began singing in their own voices, later on professionals took over, which could account for the clear operatic tone both achieved.) 

The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the idea for the musical number came from Fallon, who flew to Los Angeles to film his part of the song. 

Check out the full video below!

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Paul Drinkwater / NBC via Getty Images

Dennis Rodman on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno on Tuesday, March 19.

Dennis Rodman, unofficial celebrity ambassador to the world?

The Worm, apparently still basking in attention for his buzzy, bizarre trip to North Korea, continued to describe the experience with Kim Jong-un in an appearance on Tuesday's edition of "The Tonight Show."

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"I was actually shocked that he's actually nice," Rodman said of the elusive and oppressive North Korean dictator, his new friend and an "awesome kid." Of Kim's headquarters, he added: "It's not even a palace, it's more like a fortress. It's just insane."

VIDEO: Dennis Rodman Tells President Obama to 'Call' Kim Jong-un

When Jay Leno asked about the severe poverty facing the country's citizens, the "Celebrity Apprentice" star replied: "It's pretty much like any other country. We got the same thing here."

Footage from Rodman's "basketball diplomacy" tour is part of a TV show Vice Media is producing that will air on HBO next month.

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Last week Rodman made an equally stunt-y excursion to Rome, where the ex-NBA bad boy was photographed riding in a faux Popemobile. He had been stumping for Peter Turkson, a cardinal from Ghana, to win the papacy.

Rodman -- sporting a signature flamboyant combination of track pants, Lacoste shirt and fur-lined coat on Leno's couch -- babbled somewhat incoherently while talking about his Italian journey. He claimed he "almost" met the pope but was cagey on the details.

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Hugh Jackman's "Gangnam Style" meeting with the song's singer PSY went viral in October -- the two were shooting "Wolverine" and "X-Factor" next door to one another -- and on Thursday's "Tonight Show," Jackman (now promoting "Les Miserables") attempted to share the love with host Jay Leno, offering up a tutorial in the viral dance moves. 

Spoiler: one of the men is much better at going "Gangnam" than the other.

But Jackman wasn't the only guy busting some moves on late night television Thursday. Jamie Foxx, appearing on the "Late Show with David Letterman," recalled Wednesday's "121212: The Concert for Sandy Relief," and his respect for "seasoned" -- not older -- rock legends The Rolling Stones.

Specifically, Foxx was very taken with some of Mick Jagger's dancing. Demonstrating them himself, Foxx said, "I love how he'll come to you and leave," Foxx said of one of Jagger's signature moves.

"Well sure, you don't want him to stay exactly -- I mean you kinda do, but you don't really," Letterman responded.

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Election night was not a good evening for "The Colbert Report's" Stephen Colbert, who showed up Wednesday night face-down on his desk, wearing his red (natch) bathrobe, tossing around popcorn and cracking open a beer. It was a far cry from the crowd dancing he did following the first presidential debate.

“What are you people doing here? Shouldn’t you be out celebrating?” he asked his audience. “Because evidently you don’t listen to anything I say!”

But things went as well as could be expected for "The Daily Show's" Jon Stewart, who saw President Obama re-elected and the Democrats pick up a couple of seats in the Senate.

But if there was one downside, it was that his live show that evening prevented him from watching how the folks at Fox News handled themselves watching their nightmare come true. Still, Stewart did riff on how the network he calls “Bulls--- Mountain” spent the night and its aftermath, and it was worth waiting for.

Unsurprisingly, he showed clips of Karl Rove’s desperate attempts to un-call Ohio for Obama, and Fox anchor Megyn Kelly’s challenge to Rove, “Is this just math that you view as a Republican to make yourself feel better, or is this real?”

“Did you see this? Did you record this? Did you TiVo it? Because you can play it back and forth like I did today,” Stewart said. “Here’s what happened. I just want to get it straight Karl, very quickly. Are you lying to yourself? Or to the millions of viewers? Because you’re lying.”

And Stewart found Kelly’s comment notable in another way, suggesting to the network’s executives that "'Math you do as a Republican to make yourself feel better' is a much better slogan for Fox than what they have now.”

Stewart also examined what happened in the hours after the election, when the Fox News team looked at the shattered remains of their election map and attempted to make some sense of what happened.

First came the predictable excuse that many voters, clearly more than the 47 percent Mitt Romney dismissed in that infamous campaign-event-turned-viral-video, took advantage of the chance to line their pockets at the expense of the selfless, wealthy job-creating class.

“What an incredible story to tell yourselves. ‘We would have won, if not for the moral failings of the non-real Americans,’” Stewart said. “Last night minorities, who feel entitled to things, came away and took the country away from the self-sufficient white Medicare retirees and upper class tax avoidance experts, or as they’re also known, ‘your audience.’”

Fox also blamed negative campaigning from Obama, and the smearing of Romney’s record. Of course, much of the attacks were originally made by Romney’s rivals in the primary, causing Stewart to note, “This election wasn’t murder. It was auto un-erotic asphyxiation.”

Finally, the network tried to treat the results as something less than a mandate, a confusing approach given the lopsided nature of the electoral college results, particularly if Florida is called for Obama once the results are finally tabulated.

 “Yes, let this resounding victory by Barack Obama be a lesson to the president. If you don’t moderate your positions, you may not win that third term!” Stewart said.

Nate Silver, the man of the hour in the data-driven community, was Stewart’s guest on Wednesday’s “Daily Show.” Silver came under fire from the right when his "FiveThirtyEight" blog predicted an overwhelming likelihood of an Obama victory at a time when the conventional narrative was that this election would be “razor tight,” whatever that means.

Considering the results went almost exactly as his analysis predicted, however, a lot of those critics owe Silver an apology.

“Don’t you want to stand up and go ‘I am Nate Silver! Bow down to me! I am Nate Silver, Lord and God of the Algorithm?” Stewart asked.

Silver demurred, perhaps because his blog wasn’t perfect. It did call that North Dakota senate race wrong.

Meanwhile, over on the broadcast networks, David Letterman noted during his "Late Show" monologue, "Well, it's over. And as usual, the guy from Kenya won." Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" congratulated President Obama on his re-election, and noted there was hope for the GOP since depression "is covered by Obamacare."

And "Late Night's" Jimmy Fallon (whose dog is not apparently to be trusted with predicting presidential race winners) trotted out his Romney character one more time, chatting on the phone with "President Obama," who noted that he had done well with the Latino vote. "Which is odd, because 80 percent of Latinos work for me," said Fallon/Romney.

"I'm just going to focus on the good times," said Romney/Fallon. "Remember that first debate?"

"Obama" replied: "Yep. You remember ... right now? Ha! Burn notice!"

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Apparently President Barack Obama did hear about Donald Trump's huuuge announcement. "This all dates back to when we were growing up together in Kenya," Obama joked Wednesday on "The Tonight Show," when Jay Leno -- comparing the situation to himself and David Letterman -- asked about Trump, who earlier today offered to donate $5 million to charity in exchange for a look at the president's college and passport records.

"We had constant run-ins on the soccer field," Obama continued as Leno mimed notching a point down for the commander-in-chief.

Clint Eastwood stars in a new, chair-free Romney campaign ad

"He wasn't very good and resented it. When we finally moved to America, I thought it would be over."

And, as it turns out, the two have never even met.

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Leno also quizzed Obama about his much-criticized performance in his first debate against Mitt Romney.

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"The truth is, this is not a natural way of communicating," Obama explained. "You don't sit next to somebody and have an extended argument with them like that.... With Michelle, I just concede every point. That's why we celebrated our 20th anniversary."

"There are worse things that can happen than forgetting to give your wife a gift," he cracked.

But when discussing his plan to vote early when he visits Illinois on his "48-hour campaign marathon extravaganza" this week, it didn't sound like he's too far in the dog house with the first lady, noting, "Michelle told me she voted for me."

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And, good news for trick-or-treaters on Pennsylvania Avenue who may have received fruit last year at the behest of Michelle Obama: "It is an election year, so candy for everybody," Obama announced. "If anybody comes from Ohio to the White House, they will get a Hershey bar about this big," he added, holding his hands far apart.

Finally, the president was asked by a fan who submitted a question via Facebook if there was a cure for Romnesia.

"Obamacare covers preexisting conditions," he said.

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Comedy Central

King Abdullah II of Jordan spoke to "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart Tuesday night.

If you think we’re paying close attention to issues like Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon and the effect that YouTube videos can have in the streets of the Middle East, that’s nothing compared to what’s going on in the mind of the rulers in the regions.

Jon Stewart got to hear about Arab Spring from King Abdullah II of Jordan on Tuesday’s “Daily Show.” King Abdullah, in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, offered his take on the region in an extended interview.

Though, as Stewart noted at the beginning of the show, neither King Abdullah nor anyone else will be getting a private session with President Obama (in his defense, “The View” is a much cheerier setting than the U.N. Building), the Jordanian monarch gave him a taste of what he would say about the Iran situation if he were able to tear his way away from Barbara Walters and company.

“The way I put it to those who will listen is that the reason we have a nuclear program is because what Israel is doing to the Palestinians, and the future of Jerusalem,” he said. “So my argument is that if Israel and Palestinians solve their problems, that allows the Israelis and the Arabs to come together and have a peace treaty, then there’s no longer a raison d’être for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

The king also discussed Arab Spring and its effects, noting that while Jordan is surrounded by volatility (“we’ve seen better days,” he said), it got ahead of the game by making changes to its political system in advance.

“The difference between Jordan and other countries is that we changed the constitution. They ran elections and now have to change the constitution,” he said.

He also noted that some of the results that may not make some in the United States very happy right now are the inevitable results of the transition to Democracy.

“Arab Spring started because of the economy, and then it went from economic frustration to politics. What happened in a lot of countries was, as young men and women aspired to political form, those who were more organized like the Muslim Brotherhood hijacked the movement. …But in a way, that’s Democracy,” he said.

And President Obama doesn’t need to worry about hurt feelings. As far as King Abdullah is concerned, choosing “The View” over world leaders isn’t bothering anyone.

“Not that I have heard, no. I think everyone is there preparing for their speeches.”

Questionable call

The decision to meet with “The View” audience as opposed to world leaders did bother Stewart, who began the show questioning the decision. But, as he noted, it doesn’t seem to be affecting his election chances.

“Whatever his missteps are as a candidate Obama is still surging in the polls because the closer we get to the election the dumber Mitt Romney seems to be getting,” he said.

The audience cheered, but Stewart shook his head.

“Really? Is that how you wanna win this thing? The other guy just tears his ACL -- that’s how you want to win?”

Up in the air

Over on the "Colbert Report," host Stephen Colbert took a moment to chat about one of those "injuries" Romney recently suffered -- his airplane window gaffe.

On Saturday, an electrical fire caused the candidate's wife's plane to make an emergency landing. The event left Romney publically musing about airplane windows.

"You can't fine any oxygen from outside the aircraft to get in the aircraft because the windows don't open -- I don't know why they don’t… It's a real problem." he said after the incident.

"It is a real problem," Colbert agreed. "For one thing, it explains why Burger King doesn't have a fly-through window. … Just as Kennedy challenged us to put a man on the moon, now Mitt Romney is challenging us to add power windows to the Delta shuttle -- not because it is easy, but because it is impossible."

Meanwhile Ann Romney sat down with Jay Leno Wednesday night to talk about a wide range of things on the "Tonight Show" -- from flying in a smoke-filled plane, to the fact that the Romney family (they have five sons) loves Costco, and about her battle with multiple sclerosis -- oh, and also about the Republican candidate’s abilities as a hoofer.

“You know, Jay,” she said to Leno, “he’s gotten to be a better dancer.”

Cut to a doctored clip of Romney mixing it up “Gangnam Style.”

She was a game guest, but admitted that campaigning is stressful – and she didn’t expect to be doing it yet again. “It’s a hard thing to do this … especially being a wife and having to listen to (attacks in the media) all the time,” she told Leno, then ‘fessed up: Four years ago, she made her husband a very special videotape. “I looked in the camera, and I said, ‘Mitt, this is for you, sweetheart. I’m never doing this again.’ And I showed it to him. And he looked at it and then he said, ‘You know, Ann, you say that after every pregnancy.’ Which is true.”

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Ron Paul didn't get a chance to speak at the Republican National Convention, but he got the next best thing ... a spot on “The Tonight Show” couch.

Paul was shut out from the main stage in Tampa, and he had to wait for Jay Leno to finish his two-part conversation with Kevin Hart to have his say on Tuesday, but he got enough time to please his supporters -- especially one guy in the back who tried to start a “President Paul!” chant.

It’s safe to say that the Paul and Mitt Romney camps won’t be swapping holiday cards. The best that can be said of Paul’s comments towards the Republican nominee was that they weren’t overtly hostile.

Paul on Romney’s speech: “It was nice. He said a lot of nice things. It was very pleasant and all, but it wasn’t the speech that I would give.”

Paul on who he’ll vote for in November: “No clue. No clue. I’ll keep plugging along.”

So much for Republican Party unity post-convention.

On the positive side for the GOP, he did make it sound very unlikely that he’d run as a third party candidate, though Leno channeled his inner political cheerleader and did his best to talk him into it. 

“Democracy isn’t all that healthy because if you’re in a third party, you don’t get into the debates,” Paul said. “Had I tried to do what I’ve done in the past few years in a third party, I probably wouldn’t have gotten on your show.”

True enough. But even doing it within the two-party system he didn’t get to speak in Tampa, so it’s all relative.

Paul had nicer things to say about the Clint Eastwood skit. Of course, when Eastwood criticized Obama’s empty chair for not bringing the troops home, he was cheered. That was far from Paul’s experience.

“Did you ever hear of a presidential candidate being booed? I’ve been booed because I want to bring the troops home,” Paul said, recalling his treatment by the audience at the Republican debates. “I said, ‘We just marched in. We can just march out.'”

"The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" also began their convention coverage. For Jon Stewart, one of the issues was the Democrats trying to answer the “Are you better off than you were four years ago” with some nuanced variation of “Americans understand....”

“Here’s what the American people understand: Getting a free sandwich is a good reason to buy 10 other sandwiches. Here’s what the American people understand: Angels are real.”

In other words, the answer to the “Are you better off” question is always "Yes!”

Stewart also noted that Chuck Norris has joined the Mitt Romney bandwagon, proclaiming that this election pits the last best hope to same our nation against the start of a thousand-year descent into the abyss. Guest Tom Brokaw didn’t seem fazed.

“I’m a little worried about Chuck Norris, but I’m waiting to hear what Dog the Bounty Hunter has to say,” Brokaw said.

Odds are good he’ll find out soon enough.

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