The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Summary
SUMMARY
- Airs Next:NBC at Weekdays 11:35 PM (60 min.)
- Status:Returning Series
- Premiered:May 25, 1992
- Show Categories:Talk Shows, Comedy
Jay Leno follows in the footsteps of legendary NBC late-night hosts Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson. Leno has created his own unique late-night style with a combination of humor, talk and entertainment each night at 11:35 p.m. ET - the wee hours when viewers want to wind down with a few laughs before drifting off to dreamland. Considered by many to be a “variety” show, “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” features a nightly monologue and news-making guests, as well as ongoing comedy segments including “Headlines,” “Tonight Show Side Show,” “Jaywalking,” and “Battle of Jaywalking All-Stars.” The result is a unique look at today’s pop culture.
Honored for Emmy Awards in 1995 and 1996, “The Tonight Show” was also voted by readers of “TV Guide” readers as ‘Favorite Late Night Show’ in 1999 and 2000. Other notable achievements include: Leno’s exclusive interview with Senator John Glenn and the astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery; a pay-per-view wrestling match between Leno and Hulk Hogan; “The Tonight Show Unplugged” in response to California’s recent power crisis; a sum of $360,200 raised for The Twin Towers Fund from auctioning Leno’s celebrity-signed motorcycle; and a special 2001 Thanksgiving show broadcast live on Armed Forces Radio and Television Services to entertain U.S. military personnel worldwide. In addition, the program continued to make history in April 1999 when it became the first television series to be broadcast nightly in HDTV (high-definition television).
The program has also proven to be a barometer of political clout. In 2000, the “Los Angeles Times” noted that “The road to the White House apparently leads through Burbank,” as each presidential candidate -- Al Gore, George W. Bush, Bill Bradley and John McCain – appeared to demonstrate their relaxed, good-humored side during the presidential elections.
Many of the world’s most popular celebrities, musical guests and newsworthy names have recently appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” including: Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, Denzel Washington, Nicole Kidman, Billy Crystal, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey, Sharon Stone, supermodel Heidi Klum, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, Vice President Dick Cheney, Mrs. Laura Bush, Gwyneth Paltrow, Shaquille O’Neal, Elton John, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Sheryl Crow, Enrique Iglesias, Mel Gibson, ‘N Sync, Jennifer Aniston, Jerry Seinfeld, Tom Hanks and John Travolta. In addition to the star-power, the “Tonight Show” production team searches for the most interesting “civilian” guests such as kid inventors and individuals with quirky talents and funny stories.
Guitarist Kevin Eubanks is the show’s bandleader. Debbie Vickers is the executive producer. “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” is from Big Dog Productions in association with NBC Studios. Jay Leno follows in the footsteps of legendary NBC late-night hosts Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson. Leno has created his own unique late-night style with a combination of humor, talk and entertainment each night at 11:35 p.m. ET - the wee hours when viewers want to wind down with a few laughs before drifting off to dreamland. Considered by many to be a “variety” show, “The...
Honored for Emmy Awards in 1995 and 1996, “The Tonight Show” was also voted by readers of “TV Guide” readers as ‘Favorite Late Night Show’ in 1999 and 2000. Other notable achievements include: Leno’s exclusive interview with Senator John Glenn and the astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery; a pay-per-view wrestling match between Leno and Hulk Hogan; “The Tonight Show Unplugged” in response to California’s recent power crisis; a sum of $360,200 raised for The Twin Towers Fund from auctioning Leno’s celebrity-signed motorcycle; and a special 2001 Thanksgiving show broadcast live on Armed Forces Radio and Television Services to entertain U.S. military personnel worldwide. In addition, the program continued to make history in April 1999 when it became the first television series to be broadcast nightly in HDTV (high-definition television).
The program has also proven to be a barometer of political clout. In 2000, the “Los Angeles Times” noted that “The road to the White House apparently leads through Burbank,” as each presidential candidate -- Al Gore, George W. Bush, Bill Bradley and John McCain – appeared to demonstrate their relaxed, good-humored side during the presidential elections.
Many of the world’s most popular celebrities, musical guests and newsworthy names have recently appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” including: Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, Denzel Washington, Nicole Kidman, Billy Crystal, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey, Sharon Stone, supermodel Heidi Klum, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, Vice President Dick Cheney, Mrs. Laura Bush, Gwyneth Paltrow, Shaquille O’Neal, Elton John, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Sheryl Crow, Enrique Iglesias, Mel Gibson, ‘N Sync, Jennifer Aniston, Jerry Seinfeld, Tom Hanks and John Travolta. In addition to the star-power, the “Tonight Show” production team searches for the most interesting “civilian” guests such as kid inventors and individuals with quirky talents and funny stories.
Guitarist Kevin Eubanks is the show’s bandleader. Debbie Vickers is the executive producer. “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” is from Big Dog Productions in association with NBC Studios. Jay Leno follows in the footsteps of legendary NBC late-night hosts Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson. Leno has created his own unique late-night style with a combination of humor, talk and entertainment each night at 11:35 p.m. ET - the wee hours when viewers want to wind down with a few laughs before drifting off to dreamland. Considered by many to be a “variety” show, “The...
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LAST EPISODE
Jim Carey; Rosario Dawson; Relient K
Aired: Tuesday December 16, 2008
Jim Carey; Rosario Dawson; Relient K; The Audience Wants to Know.
Tue, Jan 6, 2009
Queen Latifah, Adam Carolla, The Pussycat Dolls
- Posted: 01/07/09
- Views: N/A
- Comments: N/A
NEWS
NBC keeps its late-night horse in its stable, but will be running new show in not-so-late-night time slot.
- 12/09/08 10:43 AM
- 21 comments \ add yours
Palin set to meet Tina Fey and the rest of SNL; McCain returns to Letterman; Obama buys primetime.
- 10/13/08 3:11 PM
- 16 comments \ add yours
NBC executives finally reveal exact date the changing of the guard will occur on The Tonight Show.
- 07/21/08 2:11 PM
- 20 comments \ add yours
- Kevin Tyrone EubanksBand Leader
- John MelendezAnnouncer
- Edd HallAnnouncer (1992 - 2004)
- Branford MarsalisBand Leader (1992 - 1994)
add a review
USER REVIEWS
- The Bottom Line: "Change the channel!"09/05/08 10:11pm | report abuse
Lenno is not funny. The drummer is annoying. Connan is this show's only hope. ...Continue »
- The Bottom Line: "Underappreciated"09/03/08 01:35pm | report abuse
Jay Leno is the comic Everyman. Funny, witty, and playful and never mean. Jay Leno is a class act. ...Continue »
- The Bottom Line: "Absolutely fabulous"08/04/08 10:40am | report abuse
The King of Talk Show ...Continue »
- The Bottom Line: "Off the wall"04/07/08 11:41am | report abuse
I can stay up late to wacth the Show ...Continue »
Show Score
8.3
great
- Show Statistics
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1,685 of 17,897 Rating Rank
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68 Reviews
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1,184 Tracked by
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1,552 Votes
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