Jimmy Fallon's Online Training Wheels

Before funnyman Jimmy Fallon steps in as host of NBC's Late Night talk show, he'll have a chance to stretch his legs online.

Fallon, who has been named as Conan O'Brien's replacement when O'Brien relieves Jay Leno on the Tonight Show in 2009, will begin broadcasting on the web this fall.

Late Night producer and long-time Saturday Night Live boss Lorne Michaels told New York Times reporters he hopes the unprecedented move will help Fallon "to work out as many of the rough spots in his presentation as possible in performances on a website."

Slated to air this fall, webisodes are expected to run about 5-10 minutes long each, and his web show will likely air on a nightly basis to establish a regular rhythm for Fallon and viewers.

Studio-backed web-based content is nothing new --- Heroes, Lost and The Office all experiment with unveiling new characters and story arcs online -- but it's the first time the web has been used as a medium for transition to the big time.

NBC's virtual testing room could prove a viable means for obtaining instant feedback and attracting new viewers -- not to mention providing Fallon fans a boatload of bite-sized laughs-on-demand.

[via Lost Remote]

by Jenna Wortham for Wired.com

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