NBC's new promo for 'The Tonight Show' takes a look back in history and sets us up for the next phase with Jimmy Fallon

The Tonight Show has had the longest running airtime in television history. It all started with Steve Allen, then Jack Paar. Next was one of the most innovative TV icons, Johnny Carson, followed by Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien (briefly), back to Jay Leno, and now Jimmy Fallon, who will make his debut for the job on Feb. 17.

We still have a month before Fallon takes over the show, but NBC has treated us with a promo for the next stage in the show's history.

This is undoubtedly one of the most special times in Fallon's career. He did well in standup, made a real name for himself at Saturday Night Live, and has made Late Night an extreme success. But filling the shoes of Johnny Carson is another ball game. Seth Meyers, who followed in Fallon's footsteps as a newsman on SNL's "Weekend Update," will fill his current position at Late Night.

Taking over for Leno hasn't been easy, historically, as O'Brian found out back in 2009. Even though O'Brian got a generous $45 million payout after his job at the show didn't work out, it's hopeful that Fallon will stay put and Leno can move on to other things.

But as The Hollywood Reporter put it back in March of last year: "Fallon's median viewer age is 53.3, not too far from Leno's 58.1, suggesting the late-night talk format in its current broadcast network form might be aging out of existence no matter who the man in the suit telling jokes."

Well, if Fallon has a good grip on the younger viewers (hence his prominent connections with the likes of Justin Bieber and Justin Timberlake), but also the those in their mid to late 50's, this could end up working out quite well.

Watch the promo for The Tonight Show below.