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The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Name: The Tonight Show With Jay Leno
Released: 1992
Rating: 48

48 Metascore
1992-2014
22 Seasons
NBC
Talk & Interview
TV14

Watchlist

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.

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1:51 Tonight Show With Jay Leno: Jay's Last Show: Clip 1

Awards

2006 - People's Choice Awards - Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host - winner
2005 - Emmy - Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program - nominated
2003 - Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - nominated
2002 - Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - nominated

Latest News See All

Which Longtime Late-Night Host Will Be Craig Ferguson's Last Late Late Show Guest?

Craig Ferguson will bid farewell to late-night TV next month when he steps down as host of The Late Late Show on Friday, Dec. 19. The good news is that he'll be able to get plenty of ...

Thu, Nov 6, 2014

Which Longtime Late-Night Host Will Be Craig Ferguson's Last Late Late Show Guest?

Jay Leno Returns to The Tonight Show for the First Time Since His Second Retirement

Jay Leno just can't quit The Tonight Show. The late-night alum will sit down with current Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon as a guest on Friday, Nov. 7, presumably to talk about his acceptance of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor last month. The ceremony will air Nov. 23 on PBS.

Mon, Nov 3, 2014

Jay Leno Returns to The Tonight Show for the First Time Since His Second Retirement

Is Jay Leno Coming Back to TV?

Jay Leno is close to inking a deal for his first permanent post-Tonight Show gig. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Leno is near a deal with CNBC to host a primetime show that will focus on his love of cars. The program would fit right in with the network's latest push "CNBC Prime," which features original shows such as The Profit, Car Chasers and re-runs of Shark Tank. The new deal would keep him in the NBC Universal family where he's been employed since 1992.

Thu, Oct 9, 2014

Emmy Watch: How the Late Night Upheaval Could Shake Up the Variety Series Competition

When Johnny Carson signed off from The Tonight Show in 1992, his reign as the King of Late Night was celebrated with an Emmy win for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series. Granted, the competition that year was sparse: Fox's sketch-comedy show In Living Color and NBC's Late Night with David Letterman were the only others nominated. This year, as newly retired Tonight Show host Jay Leno attempts to secure one final nomination in the category now known as...

Wed, May 21, 2014

Emmy Watch: How the Late Night Upheaval Could Shake Up the Variety Series Competition

Jay Leno Appears on The Arsenio Hall Show to Announce Season 2 Renewal

Well that didn't take long! Less than three weeks after leaving The Tonight Show, Jay Leno returned to late-night to help make a special announcement. Fall TV 2014 Scorecard: Which shows are returning? Which aren't? On Wednesday's episode of The Arsenio Hall Show, Leno sneaked up from behind Hall and gave the first of two big surprises. The second, via an inconspicuous-looking letter, was Leno's reveal that The Arsenio Hall Show has been renewed for a second season. CBS Television Distribution sent out a release shortly thereafter making the renewal official. "Since 9/9/13, I've been waking up without...

Thu, Feb 27, 2014