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Tonight Show with Jay Leno: TV Guide News

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The venerable show that became one of TV's sturdiest (and most profitable) institutions, and a window into American culture. Like `Today,' `Tonight' was the brainchild of NBC exec Sylvester `Pat' Weaver. Originally telecast live from New York, it went to tape in the late '50s (which enabled censors to snip Jack Paar's `w.c.' joke, prompting him to walk off the show) and to L.A in 1972, so his successor, Johnny Carson---who hosted the show for 30 years---could have access to more celebrities.
  • McCain on Tonight Show: "Americans Don't Want a Sore Loser" | Today's News: Our Take | 11/11/2008
    In his first television appearance since conceding the election to President-elect Barack Obama, Sen. John McCain spent Veteran's Day with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show, alternating in tone between his characteristic, self-deprecating one-liners and a more reverent seriousness. Read on to see what he said about Gov. Palin and the press... read more 10 Comments
  • McCain Visits Tonight Show for First Post-Election TV Appearance | Today's News: Our Take | 11/11/2008
    Sen. John McCain will make his first television appearance since losing the 2008 Presidential Election on the Nov. 11 episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.The Arizona senator and former prisoner of war in Vietnam will help Jay & Co. celebrate ... read more 4 Comments
  • Letterman Wants to Leave Late Show on Own Terms, Defends Leno | Today's News: Our Take | 9/3/2008
    Jay Leno may be handing in his late-night reins in 2009, but don't expect David Letterman to do the same for at least a few more years."The way I feel now, I would like to go beyond 2010, not much beyond, but you know, enough to go beyond," he said in a new Rolling Stone interview. "You always like to be able to excuse yourself on your own terms."That doesn't seem to be the case with Leno's Tonight Show departure next May. Letterman thinks Leno's getting a raw deal from NBC, who's trying to... read more
  • Given that The Tonight Show ... | Matt Roush | 8/11/2008
    Question: Given that The Tonight Show is a franchise with its own time-tested dynamic, what does your crystal ball reveal in terms of how Conan O'Brien will challenge, given the coastal and time slot switch next year? Like you, I prefer Conan's semi-anarchic antics to Jay's more formulaic approach, and I'm concerned that much of what I've always enjoyed about Late Night will be lost. I can't see much-beloved recurring characters like "The Masturbating Bear," "Pimpbot... read more
  • Leno Rounds Up Summer's Hottest Products | Today's News: Our Take | 7/24/2008
    Summer is officially serving up some smokin' hot days, and Leno has the perfect products to go along with our sunny season. First we've got the DirectTV tanning dish for those of us who want to maximize our free time. Then Leno demonstrates a new use for all those salmonella ridden tomatoes lying around in the garden. And our personal favorite: the Wii Weed Whacker (ah, if only that one really did exist). read more
  • Jeers: Jay Shows No Love for Justin | Cheers & Jeers | 6/11/2008
    Jeers to Jay Leno for botching an interview with Justin Timberlake. The Tonight Show unfunnyman spent the bulk of the first segment with the Love Guru costar discussing... golf? Even worse, Leno told a very long, very old golf joke, while Timberlake sat quietly. The monologue's over, Jay — time to let the guest talk. Then Leno opened the second segment by noting he'd met Timberlake's girlfriend Jessica Biel when she was a teenager during one of his "Jay Walking" bits... then didn't show... read more
  • Report: Jay Leno to Get Own CNN Show | Today's News: Our Take | 6/2/2008
    First it was Katie Couric, then Ryan Seacrest, and now...Jay Leno?The "Who'll Replace Larry King" sweepstakes rolls on.The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting CNN is toying with the idea of giving the Tonight Show host a late-night talkfest when his NBC contract expires next year. Leno would then slide into King's 9 pm/ET timeslot when the Suspendered One eventually retires.To be clear, King has not announced his retirement. He recently re-upped with CNN through 2010.In a major late-night shuffle,... read more
  • NBC Introduces Jimmy Fallon as Late Night Host | Today's News: Our Take | 5/12/2008
    Confirming the worst-kept secret in television, NBC today officially introduced comedian Jimmy Fallon as the network's newest late-night host.The SNL alum will start as host of Late Night (Weeknights, 12:30 am/ET) when Conan O'Brien takes over the Tonight Show for Jay Leno in 2009.Ironically, O'Brien's show was the first talk show Fallon appeared on after joining SNL in 1998.Fallon, 33, told a news conference he has been destined to host a late-night talkfest since he was a kid. "In my... read more
  • It's Official: Jimmy Fallon Gets Late Night Nod from NBC | Today's News: Our Take | 4/24/2008
    As expected, comedian Jimmy Fallon will host Late Night (12:30 am/ET, NBC) when Conan O'Brien moves to the Tonight Show in 2009.Fox News.com reports NBC won't make the official announcement until next month, but word leaked out today about the Saturday Night Live alum.Fallon's late-night coronation is part of what could be a late-night TV sea change in 2009. Rumors are swirling that current Tonight Show host Jay Leno has been courted by other networks about launching a new nighttime talker... read more
  • Live Commercials on Kimmel in May | Today's News: Our Take | 4/15/2008
    Live commercials will be a part of Jimmy Kimmel Live (Weeknights at 12:05 pm/ET, ABC) beginning in May.Not every spot will be live, but hopes are high that they will stand out from the rest and make viewers less trigger-happy with their TV remotes. Last year, the Tonight Show With Jay Leno aired a live commercial and intends to do so again later this year. Will you give the remote a rest to see how live commercials play out? — J.R. Whalen read more
  • Hillary Returns "Sniper Fire" During Jay Leno Visit | Today's News: Our Take | 4/4/2008
    Presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton aimed to put a public gaffe behind her during a Thursday-night Tonight Show visit, telling Jay Leno she feared not making it to the talker because "I was pinned down by sniper fire" — a reference to when she "misspoke" last month about a trip she had made to Bosnia. Leno quipped back, "In L.A., that might be true, actually."Clinton later told Leno she is "incredibly touched" by daughter Chelsea's decision to stump for her campaign. Reminded that... read more
  • Leno Apologizes for "Dumb" Gay Remark to Phillippe | Today's News: Our Take | 4/1/2008
    Following criticism from GLAAD, gay activists and others, Jay Leno apologized Tuesday for questionable remarks he made to Ryan Phillippe during a recent Tonight Show interview. During Phillippe's appearance, Leno brought up the actor's first role, which was as a gay teen on One Life to Live, and then asked him to give his "gayest look." A visibly uncomfortable Phillippe declined the request, saying, "That is so something I don't want to do," and pretended to walk off the stage.Leno has since... read more
  • Other Networks Vying for Jay Leno's Attention | Today's News: Our Take | 2/27/2008
    Conan O'Brien might be taking over The Tonight Show in 2009, but that doesn't mean you'll never see Jay Leno's chin on late-night again. In fact, the New York Times reports that Leno, who continues to reign as champion of late-night ratings, is already in the crosshairs of execs at ABC, Fox and Sony Pictures Television, even though they can't officially negotiate with him until November '09. ABC and Fox have both discreetly indicated their interest, while Sony has put the word out that, when... read more
  • Leno Guests on Kimmel, and Vice Versa | Today's News: Our Take | 1/7/2008
    Does Jay Leno "Jimmy"? Apparently. With their struck shows not having the easiest of times booking guests, this Thursday the hosts of NBC's The Tonight Show and ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live will appear on each other's late-night talkers. "There are only a few people in the world that know how tough this job is. Jimmy is one of them," Leno tells the AP. "It will be fun to discuss who's a good guest, who's a difficult guest and everything else that comes with sitting behind these desks." (One example:... read more
  • Leno Has the Write Stuff When It Comes to Ratings | Today's News: Our Take | 1/3/2008
    Should the Writers Guild of America take this personally? According to Nielsen's overnight ratings in 55 markets, NBC's writer-less Tonight Show with Jay Leno was the audience favorite with a 5.3 rating and a 12 share on Wednesday night. That topped CBS' Late Show with David Letterman, which returned with its writers after Letterman's production company worked out its own deal with the WGA. It scored a 4.3/10. Viewers were clearly happy to see both shows return after a strike-imposed two-month... read more
  • Happy New Year for Late-night TV | Matt Roush | 1/3/2008
    Did absence make our hearts grow fonder of late-night TV's hosts, missing in action for the last two months? I suppose it's possible, though I doubt anyone's preferences were changed by what they saw Wednesday night, when all of the network hosts finally returned to work, all but David Letterman and Craig Ferguson without writers. (If anything grew, it was facial hair, at least on Dave and Conan.)If you're the sort who for whatever reason prefers affable Jay Leno over cranky Dave, or chooses to... read more
  • Late-night TV's Return: Who Had the Write Stuff? | Today's News: Our Take | 1/3/2008
    The new year brings new shows from Letterman, Leno and the gang. As Dave and his night-owl peers return to the airwaves, come here to share your takes on the individual hosts. Did Dave and Craig Ferguson take advantage of the enormous advantage given them by the WGA-approved return of their writing staffs?Did Jay, Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel happen to impress you with their writer-less wit?Chime in here with your opinions! Plus, see how TV Guide's Matt Roush grades the assorted... read more
  • A Robin Lands on Letterman, While Leno Hearts Huckabee | Today's News: Our Take | 12/31/2007
    Late Show with David Letterman returns on Wednesday not only with his writing staff (see our Strike Watch blog) but Robin Williams as his lead-off guest, says the AP. Also onboard for the evening is Shooter Jennings, with Donald Trump bumped to Friday. On Thursday, Dave welcomes Bill Maher, Ellen Page and a performance from Broadway's Young Frankenstein.Meanwhile, all eyes are on the late-night talkers that have not hammered out an agreement with the WGA (as Worldwide Pants' Letterman and Craig... read more
  • Leno and Conan Strike Back, Return to Work Jan. 2 | Today's News: Our Take | 12/17/2007
    This just in from NBC:"After two months of repeats, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O'Brien will resume broadcasting all-new episodes beginning Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008. The late-night shows suspended production due to the strike by the Writers Guild of America on Nov. 5 and have aired repeats since. "During the 1988 writers' strike, Johnny Carson reluctantly returned to The Tonight Show without his writers after two months," notes Rick Ludwin, executive vice president,... read more
  • 2007 versus 1988: Television Will Be Struck Harder This Time | Stephen Battaglio | 11/19/2007
    The strike by the Writers Guild of America is just two weeks old and there's already been a lot of fretting about what fans will do when first-run episodes of their favorite shows run out. So what will happen if, despite the recent agreement to resume talks on Nov. 26, it goes on for 22 weeks like the last work stoppage in 1988?According to Shari Ann Brill, a senior vice president at the ad-buying firm Carat, this strike is going to hurt a whole lot more. "Television as a medium will survive... read more
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Cast & Details

Premiered: May 25, 1992, on NBC
Rating: TV-14
User Rating: (77 ratings)
Add Your Rating: 1 stars2 stars3 stars4 stars5 stars
Premise: The venerable show that became one of TV's sturdiest (and most profitable) institutions, and a window into American culture. Like `Today,' `Tonight' was the brainchild of NBC exec Sylvester `Pat' Weaver. Originally telecast live from New York, it went to tape in the late '50s (which enabled censors to snip Jack Paar's `w.c.' joke, prompting him to walk off the show) and to L.A in 1972, so his successor, Johnny Carson---who hosted the show for 30 years---could have access to more celebrities.

 Tonight Show with Jay Leno Cast

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