A good run
Comedian Jay Leno said an emotional goodbye to the Tonight Show on Thursday with a star-studded farewell led by actor Billy Crystal, after hosting the nBC late night show for more than 20 years and handing the reins over to Jimmy Fallon.
Leno, 63, who took over one of US broadcast television’s marquee programmes in 1992 from Johnny Carson, came out to a standing ovation from the audience of friends and family, shaking hands with many as he did in each show.
“i don’t like goodbyes; nBC does,” Leno quipped when opening his monologue, poking fun at the network that orchestrated his departure from the show in 2009 only to reinstall him back as host less than a year later.
His final monologue was peppered with then-and-now reflections on the changes since his tenure at Tonight began.
“When i started hosting, Justin Bieber wasn’t even born yet. That’s why we call those the good ol’ days,” Leno said, poking fun at the troubled Canadian teen pop star.
The silver-haired host ended the show on an emotional note, saying, “This has been the greatest 22 years of my life,” as he rested his hand on his chin with tears well- ing in his eyes.
“it really is time for me to go and hand it off to the next guy,” the comedian added.
Crystal praised Leno for giving a comic’s levity to current events and “making us sleep better at night.”
Crystal led a comic rendition of So Long, Farewell from The Sound Of Music that included guest appearances from oprah Winfrey, Jack Black, Carol Burnett, Sheryl Crow, Jim Parsons, nBa basketball player Chris Paul and Kim Kardashian.
Country music star Garth Brooks was the musical guest, performing two songs including his hit, Friends In Low Places. Leno also received pre-recorded farewells from celebrities such as actors matt damon, mark Wahlberg, Charlie Sheen, sports broadcaster Bob Costas and his successor Jimmy Fallon.
even President Barack obama, who in 2009 became the first sitting president to appear on a late night talk show when he joined Leno on Tonight, delivered a pre-recorded goodbye.
The Tonight Show first aired on nBC in 1954 from new York with host Steve allen. Jack Paar hosted the show from 1957 until Carson took over in 1962, and held his reign for 30 years, before departing in 1992.
Leno led the Tonight Show to the top of the late night ratings in 1995 and has held off competitors david Letterman’s Late Show on CBS and aBC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live.
over Leno’s 22 years, he has been joined on the couch by celebrities, politicians, athletes and pop culture figures. notable guests include Tom Cruise, Betty White, Hugh Grant, former new York Governor eliot Spitzer, first lady michelle obama, arnold Schwarzenegger and most recently, miley Cyrus.
Fallon, 39, will be taking the Tonight Show back to its new York roots for the first time since 1972, when nBC moved the show with Carson to Burbank, California. Fallon will begin his new hosting duties on Feb 17 on the network owned by Comcast Corp. – Reuters