NBC Finally Names 'Tonight Show' Replacement: Lane Kiffin

In a stunning move, NBC management named Tennessee Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin to the coveted spot as Tonight Show host. Kiffin has already left Tennessee for the studios in southern California.

NBC honcho Jeff Zucker discussed the many reasons why Kiffin was hired, namely: his comedy.

“The man’s hilarious. I’ve seen his hysterical Internet videos, like the one where he makes a recruiting violation on-camera. And I loved that one-liner about South Carolina, when he said that their players pump gas for the rest of their lives. Most lazy comedians trot out the cliche, 'If you go to that school, you'll be working at McDonalds.' Only a brilliant mind like Kiffin's could create such a genius twist on that witticism."

Zucker admitted that he initially held doubts.

"At first, I was very confused when Kiffin kept randomly accusing people of cheating. I said to my creative team, ‘I don’t really get this guy’s brand of humor. I’m missing the big picture.' And then, two months later? He gets slammed with violations himself! And I went, ‘Oh, so THAT’S it! What a brilliant gag!’”

NBC officials strongly hinted that Kiffin would bring his comedy team from Tennessee.

“That time where his players robbed a gas station with a pellet gun, well, that was just classic,” commented Zucker. “It reminded me of a Three Stooges slapstick routine, and we need that kind of 'back to basics' comedy here at NBC. With mental giants like that, we’ll surely move up from the  No. 4 rankings."

It is not clear who will replace Kiffin at Tennessee. It is rumored that Defensive Coordinator Conan O’Brien was promised the job years ago, but that long-retired Offensive Coordinator Jay Leno has been aggressively pushing him out.