It's Official: Jimmy Fallon to Replace Conan O'Brien on 'Late Night'

Michaels says Fallon was an easy choice for the gig because he is hardworking, funny and "plays well with others."

"You can't do this job unless it's all you want," Michaels said.

Fallon told reporters his wife had left him a note Monday morning that read "Nice knowing you."

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In lieu of a traditional upfront presentation in which the network's programming chief walks through the fall schedule for advertisers while stars of returning prime-time shows sing and dance, NBC this year unveiled its schedule in April, and following its Jimmy Fallon news conference Monday staged what it called "The NBC Universal Experience" at 30 Rock.

A sort of petting zoo for advertisers, TNBCUE featured NBC Universal Chairman and CEO Jeff Zucker and Tina Fey, who is this close to becoming a cultural icon, chatting about how advertisers can find everything they want, or need, at NBC Universal; NBC News's Ann Curry and Meredith Vieira interviewing advertisers about how happy they are that they can find anything they need at NBC Universal; American Gladiators jousting; Chris Matthews doing his show; and NBC Sports on-air talent handing out signed footballs, among other attractions.

NBC announced it will use the Summer Olympics to launch a reality series in which some "complacent" guys let their mothers pick out their prospective wives. Called "Momma's Boys," it's being executive-produced by "American Idol" host-entrepreneur Ryan Seacrest who, Silverman told reporters, is a momma's boy.

And, did not the gravity of the situation forbid it, I have at least three priceless cracks I could make.

In the series, guys whose umbilical cords are still attached to Mom ask her to pick out their prospective brides from among the "nice" girls and girls "who might not be as appealing to the mothers."

"Some of these guys may be a little too close to their moms," Seacrest told trade paper Variety, which was given the scoop on the series. Silverman also got on the phone to confirm for Variety that both Seacrest and he are "momma's boys" and "proud of it," adding, "That's probably why we're both single in our mid-30s." Once again, we think what might have been, had Silverman been onstage at Radio City Music Hall, making this revelation to thousands of advertisers, station execs and reporters.

"Every decision I make, there's a voice in my head -- it's my mother judging me, like a judge on a talent show, " Seacrest said.

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Meanwhile, Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson are out as executive producers of NBC's new midseason "The Philanthropist," which is now being described as about a renegade billionaire who helps the needy all around the world, though we thought the earlier description of "hedonistic" billionaire sounded much more interesting.

Silverman told The TV Column NBC wanted the show to be light and aspirational, while Fontana was making a much darker drama. And, they wanted to shoot it in Los Angeles, where it's easier and cheaper to fake scenes set in other countries.

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In other important NBC new-schedule news, GM will become the exclusive "automotive integration partner" for new fall drama "My Own Worst Enemy."

Poor Christian Slater will have to drive GM vehicles incessantly as the mild-mannered suburban milquetoast who discovers he's also a super spy trained to kill with his teeth because, NBC says, the show will "prominently" feature two GM cars, one for each of the personalities of Slater's character. We're thinking, daytime Saturn driver, nighttime lethal-toothed Humvee driver.

A GM rep waxed commercial about the announcement, saying NBC had been very aggressive promoting ideas in the program that leverage "multiple touch points" for advertisers. "We call it 'fusion marketing,' " the car manufacturer suit said.