This is the end. Yep, the end of Jay Leno's run on The Tonight Show. Tonight's episode ends Leno's 17-year run as host of NBC's flagship late night show. He will hand over the program to Conan O'Brien. Unlike Johnny Carson, who retired when giving the reins to Leno, Jay will return in the fall with a new, prime-time show called "The Jay Leno Show."
The deal to give Leno his own prime-time show was, in effect, a compromise to keep him from defecting to another network. NBC had promised The Tonight Show to Conan O'Brien, so they had to follow through, but by giving Leno his own 5x a week, one-hour 10PM show, they ensured he would stay with them.
Jay Leno's new show has been somewhat controversial, because it eliminates 5 hours of time that NBC might otherwise use for other shows. This leads, at least in part, to the dumping of NBC's Medium, which is immediately snatched up by CBS.
In fact, the new show makes the final Tonight Show episode less of an event. After all, there's little to "choke up" about when you know you're going to see him again in September.
Jay Leno's final bow as The Tonight Show host will feature Arnold Schwarzenneger and Mel Gibson. I'd expect, however, to see surprise guests.
The following is a rough timeline of Jay Leno's career until now.
1973: Graduates from Boston's Emerson College, degree in speech therapy.
1977: TV debut as a stand-up comedian on "The Merv Griffin Show."
1977: First appearance on "The Tonight Show" as a stand-up comedian.
1977: Appears as a regular on CBS' "The Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. Show."
Late 1970s: Goes on the road as the opening act for Johnny Mathis, Tom Jones and John Denver.
1982: Begins to appear on NBC's "The Late Show With David Letterman."
1987: Along with Garry Shandling, is named co-substitute host on "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson." When Shandling drops out to do his own cable TV show, Leno is the heir apparent.
1989: Publishes "Headlines: Real but Ridiculous Samplings From America's Newspapers."
1992: Takes the reins from Johnny Carson. "The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno."
1999: Begins writing the column "Jay Leno's Garage" for Popular Mechanics.
2001: Along with his wife, Mavis, donates $100,000 to the Feminist Majority's campaign to stop Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan.
2001: Auctions off a Harley-Davidson motorcycle signed by his celebrity guests for about $360,000 to help victims of the September 11 attacks. Will do the same for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
2004: Signs a new contract with NBC through 2009. Conan O'Brien slotted to replace him after that.
2006: Becomes involved in developing biodiesel and the EcoJet concept car, a turbine-powered car, in collaboration with GM.
2007-08: During the Writers Guild of America strike, is accused of violating WGA guidelines by writing his own monologue for "The Tonight Show."
December 8, 2008: Agrees to new deal with NBC for "The Jay Leno Show," a one-hour program at 10 PM five nights a week beginning September 2009.
May 29: Tapes the final episode as host of "The Tonight Show." Scheduled guests include Mel Gibson and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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