Variety reports that Tonight Show head writer A.D. Miles—known to cult comedy fans for his part as camp counselor Gary in Wet Hot American Summer—is stepping down from his role on NBC’s flagship late-night show. Miles, who frequently appears in on-camera bits on the series, has been the show’s top writing guy since Fallon took it over in 2014, continuing their partnership from Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.
Miles has said he’s leaving the show in order to focus on more narrative writing, including an animated feature he’s working on with Fallon. Both men issued statements today, and true to form, Fallon’s was sincere and in no way funny, while Miles’ had a decent bit of bite: “Riding Jimmy Fallon’s coattails for the past eight years has given me all the confidence I need to strike out on my own and work on a movie with Jimmy Fallon,” he told reporters.
NBC has yet to announce who will be taking over for Miles when he departs the show. The Tonight Show is in a weird spot at the moment, losing the late-night ratings war—to the more politically engaged Stephen Colbert—for the first time in years.