Jimmy Fallon leaves ''Saturday Night Live''

”Saturday Night Live” may have to find a new ”Weekend Update” partner for Tina Fey; as she noted on Saturday’s season finale, she’s engaged in her last mock slap-fight with co-anchor Jimmy Fallon. Fallon announced his departure from the show at the end of the faux newscast, telling viewers: ”This is my last show. Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow.”

Fallon, 29, didn’t give a reason for his departure from ”SNL,” where he’s been a cast member for six seasons, and where he became a breakout star with his song parodies, a handful of recurring characters, and his four-year-long newsreading stint with Fey (they were the first co-anchor team on the news spoof since Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin back in the ’70s). But according to USA Today, Fallon’s contract ran out at the end of this season. He also has a burgeoning career outside of ”SNL,” which has included awards show hosting gigs on MTV and his first film leading role, opposite Queen Latifah in the action comedy ”Taxi,” due in theaters later this year.

It’s unclear whether the show will find a replacement for Fallon in the anchor chair, or whether Fey, who has another year left on her contract, will continue to do the newscast without him. Two years ago, Fey told EW: ”I want to do it as long as Jimmy wants to do it, and as long as it still seems good.” At the time, Fallon told EW: ”The whole reason I’m getting movie offers is because people see me on the show. This is the place that gave me everything, and I have to give everything back to the show….Why, are you getting tired of me?”