Jim Bell leaving NBC

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After nearly 30 years with the network, NBC producer Jim Bell is leaving the network.

• Bell is currently an executive producer for NBC Sports as well as showrunner for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
• In his role for NBC Sports, Bell headed up the network’s coverage for the Winter Olympics in South Korea and World Cup in Russia.
• NBC then asked him to takeover responsibility for “The Tonight Show,” according to a statement Bell issued.
• While handling “Tonight,” he’s also been prepping for the network’s 2020 Olympics coverage in Tokyo.
• In the statement, Bell said he agreed to a one year deal with the network last fall but left the door open to “review the situation” a year later.
• Meanwhile, Gavin Purcell will take over as interim showrunner for “Tonight.”
• NBC has yet to announce who will takeover Olympics coverage.
• Bell joined NBC in 1990 and was executive producer of “Today” from 2005 to 2012 before switching to focus on Olympics coverage.
• Bell’s exit from NBC comes at a time when “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” is nipping at Fallon’s heals in the ratings — not to mention in the middle of prep work for Tokyo.