
After 17 years, Jay Leno will step down at host of NBC’s Tonight Show Friday.
“Will I miss it? Yes, terribly. It’s the most wonderful job ever in show business,” he tells The Associated Press.
Fans have been lining up outside the Burbank, Calif., studio since 6 p.m. Thursday, hoping to snag a seat to Leno’s last show, which will feature Conan O’Brien. (O’Brien will take over hosting duties Monday at a newly built studio at nearby Universal City, Calif.)
During Leno’s run (he was the second-longest-running Tonight host; Johnny Carson hosted for three decades), he had some unforgettable moments.
In May 1993 – to commemorate the series finale of NBC’s Cheers – Leno taped his show live from the Boston bar where the sitcom was filmed.
Two years later, in July 1995, Hugh Grant made his first on-air appearance since being arrested for hiring a prostitute. “What the hell were you thinking?” Leno asked the actor.
Former action star Arnold Schwarzenegger — one of Leno’s guests this past week — announced he was running for the California governorship in August 2003.
Another memorable time: In March 2005, Leno was called as a witness in Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial. So he hired group of comedians to tell the jokes for him.
Just this past March, Barack Obama also visited Leno — the first time that a sitting U.S. president has appeared on a late night talk show. (Obama stirred up controversy after joking that his bowling score was so poor that he could have been a competitor in the Special Olympics. He later apologized.)
Leno’s last week as host had its share of highlights as well.
On Monday, Mel Gibson announced that he and his girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, are expecting a baby.
Billy Crystal — Leno’s first Tonight guest 17 years ago — also returned to bid farewell on Thursday’s show. He performed a musical medley similar to his Oscar ceremony opening numbers.
“Mustangs and Mazdas and shiny Mercedes, Model T Fords that he steals from old ladies,” Crystal sang to the tune of “My Favorite Things.”
Leno fans don’t have to shed too many tears after his Tonight Show departure.
He will host a five-nights-a-week show at 10 p.m. this fall on NBC.
“It’ll be really tricky,” Leno told the AP. “But we’ll just do the best we can.”
Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank