The Tonight Show is one of the most popular late night talk shows in North America, ever since its début in 1954. As it is around 60 years old, it has been hosted by a number of people. Last Thursday, February 6, the most recent host, Jay Leno, aired his last episode and is retiring after 22 years of hosting the Tonight Show. As Leno has been host for such a long time, his absence in the coming episodes will be a change in pace.
Jay Leno has been a long time host for the Tonight Show. While he was not the first or longest running host, what makes him special is his role in the present. As he has been there since 1992, most modern day followers have followed the Tonight Show with him in charge. Having someone else hosting is a strange concept for fans of the show. The strongest example of his popularity on the show is when he left the show the first time. In 2009, Jay Leno left the Tonight Show and was replaced by Conan O'Brien. For a year, O'Brien reigned the show, but his tenure was not very successful. His ratings sagged, and by the time the year was up, he handed the reins back to Jay Leno. Jay Leno had meanwhile gone on to host the Jay Leno Show, which did better than the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Jay Leno has hosted the Tonight Show since, but now has decided to retire for good. This time, it seems Leno is leaving for good, as he has no plans to continue in any form of the late night show career and a third tenure would just be ridiculous. While Leno was a very good host and will be lamented, his successor Jimmy Fallon is the opportunity for the show to take a breath of fresh air and undergo an exciting new change.
As for the episode itself, it is a proper farewell to Leno. It addresses his leave plenty of times, but doesn't exclude the comedy. Leno cleverly incorporates it into a very climatic episode, managing to squeeze a fair amount of final laughs from the audience. The situation isn't ignored either, with an actual scene where Leno shed some tears. Also enhancing this landmark episode is the guest star, Billy Crystal, who happens to be Leno's first guest star, making it fitting that he was the last. Crystal was also joined by a few more, surprise guest stars including Jim Parsons, Oprah Winfrey, and many more. All in all, this was the best send off Jay Leno could get.
Jay Leno was a great host of the Tonight Show and has defined it for the modern audience, but it is time to see the show with a new host to provide his take on the series. Jimmy Fallon is the opportunity to reinvent the saga. There was a time the show existed without Leno and that time has come back. For better or worse, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno has ended to pave the way for the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.
Jay Leno has been a long time host for the Tonight Show. While he was not the first or longest running host, what makes him special is his role in the present. As he has been there since 1992, most modern day followers have followed the Tonight Show with him in charge. Having someone else hosting is a strange concept for fans of the show. The strongest example of his popularity on the show is when he left the show the first time. In 2009, Jay Leno left the Tonight Show and was replaced by Conan O'Brien. For a year, O'Brien reigned the show, but his tenure was not very successful. His ratings sagged, and by the time the year was up, he handed the reins back to Jay Leno. Jay Leno had meanwhile gone on to host the Jay Leno Show, which did better than the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Jay Leno has hosted the Tonight Show since, but now has decided to retire for good. This time, it seems Leno is leaving for good, as he has no plans to continue in any form of the late night show career and a third tenure would just be ridiculous. While Leno was a very good host and will be lamented, his successor Jimmy Fallon is the opportunity for the show to take a breath of fresh air and undergo an exciting new change.
As for the episode itself, it is a proper farewell to Leno. It addresses his leave plenty of times, but doesn't exclude the comedy. Leno cleverly incorporates it into a very climatic episode, managing to squeeze a fair amount of final laughs from the audience. The situation isn't ignored either, with an actual scene where Leno shed some tears. Also enhancing this landmark episode is the guest star, Billy Crystal, who happens to be Leno's first guest star, making it fitting that he was the last. Crystal was also joined by a few more, surprise guest stars including Jim Parsons, Oprah Winfrey, and many more. All in all, this was the best send off Jay Leno could get.
Jay Leno was a great host of the Tonight Show and has defined it for the modern audience, but it is time to see the show with a new host to provide his take on the series. Jimmy Fallon is the opportunity to reinvent the saga. There was a time the show existed without Leno and that time has come back. For better or worse, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno has ended to pave the way for the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.
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