NBC to Test Jimmy Fallon Online

The thing I love most about the explosive growth of internet-accessed video is that it is making big, established companies try all sorts of interesting experiments and letting us watch and collect the data.

Case in point, NBC is going to “test out” Jimmy Fallon’s role as replacement for Conan O’Brien on “Late Night” by putting the new show online for something like six months leading up to the change-over.

“Slated to air this fall, webisodes are expected to run about five to 10 minutes long each, and his web show will likely air on a nightly basis to establish a regular rhythm for Fallon and viewers.” (via Wired)

I can’t wait to see what NBC will do if nobody watches the web series.  Will they dump Fallon before he even gets to TV?  Also, can one develop the elements of a successful hour-long TV show on the back of a series of 5-10 minute versions?

Time will tell…

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