The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is the latest incarnation of NBC's long-running late night talk show, which established the now standard late night format and has previously been hosted by Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, and Conan O'Brien. The series began in 1954, making it the longest currently-running entertainment series on television. Jay Leno initially took over the show in 1992, maintaining the classic format. This format includes an opening monologue used to comment on current events, and a series of guests Leno interviews while seated at his desk. Prior to hosting the series, Leno had developed a strong persona as a stand-up comedian, and he utilizes this experience on The Tonight Show with his longer monologues and willingness to rely on improvisation and banter with his band leader rather than scheduled sketches and segments. Over the course of nearly four thousand episodes, Leno has hosted thousands of celebrities and important figures. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno made history in 2009 when Barack Obama appeared as a guest, the first ever appearance by a sitting President of the United States on a late night talk show. MORE