• The Hollywood Reporter, Wednesday, August 8, 2007 10:30 AM

Carson Daly has renewed a deal with NBC and will stay on as host of late-night talk show "Last Call" for at least another two years. He will also again host a special "NBC's New Year's Eve" to air live from New York's Times Square on Dec. 31. "Last Call," which came out in 2002, is pulling better numbers among the adult 18-34 demo than other late-night shows, like ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and CBS' "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson."

"Carson Daly and [producer] David Friedman have reinvented "Last Call" by adding comedy elements, a pace and an energy that have made the show a winner," says Rick Ludwin, executive vice president late-night and prime-time series at NBC.

The news comes after Ludwin said last week that Jimmy Fallon is the front-runner to take over for "Late Night" host Conan O'Brien when he heads to the "The Tonight Show" in 2009. Daly had also been a contender for Conan's slot. "Now I have more time to goof off late at night on NBC, and I can't help but think I am one lucky dude," Daly says. "We are having more fun than ever on the show and are continuing to break great new bands and talent."

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