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Entire 'Tonight Show' staff laid off as Jimmy Fallon moves show from Burbank to NYC

Jan. 31, 2014, 2:43 PM EST

By Tony Maglio
TheWrap

NBCUniversal

 plans to lay off the entire "Tonight Show" staff -- all 164 Burbank employees -- when the late-night talk show moves from California to New York City next month, TheWrap has learned.

NBCUniversal notified the California Employment Development Department last month that it will eliminate the positions, a company spokesperson confirmed to TheWrap. Layoffs will begin on Feb. 14 and be staggered through April 4.

Also from TheWrap: Jay Leno on 'Tonight Show' Ouster: 'I Was Blindsided'; Compares Jimmy Fallon to Johnny Carson

"We have encouraged those 164 employees to take a look at jobs throughout the company and apply for them," the spokesperson told TheWrap. Those available positions include jobs at "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in New York City.

Jay Leno is set to depart "The Tonight Show" on Feb. 6, when his final guest will be Billy Crystal — who was also his first ever guest on the Los Angeles-based program. Fallon takes over the show on Feb. 17, when his first guests will be Will Smith and U2.

Seth Meyers takes over NBC's "Late Night" from Fallon a week later. His first guest will be former "SNL" colleague,Amy Poehler.

The Burbank Leader first reported the layoffs.