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Home , Jay Leno

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

This photo shows actor Hugh Grant (left) during an interview President during an interview with host Jay This photo provided by NBC shows Miley Cyrus (left) during with host Jay Leno. Leno. an interview with host Jay Leno, on NBC’s “ with Jay Leno.” — AP photos After 22 years, Leno bids ‘Tonight’ farewell

ake way for , “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno end- Obamacare.” But later Leno was serious, even choking up, when he late-night host made America feel a little better at bedtime and invok- ed a stellar if sometimes stormy run Thursday night with high shared that he’d lost his mother the first year he became “Tonight” ing his predecessor, . Leno’s “Tonight” tenure was sec- Memotion at concluding what he termed “the greatest 22 years host, his dad the second and then his brother. ond in length only to Carson’s 30 years. of my life.” Calling himself “the luckiest guy in the world,” Leno went “And after that I was pretty much out of family. And the folks here “You were handed the baton by one of the all-time greats. But once out on top, which was where he stayed for most of his stretch as the became my family,” he said of the crew and staff of “Tonight.” The ten- it was in your grasp, you ran the race,” Crystal said. He and Leno, long- successor to “King of ” Johnny Carson. His exit, not entirely der moments had a heightened effect on a show that was mostly aim- time friends, reminisced about the old days, with Leno recalling how by choice, now clears the deck for yet another chapter of the 60-year- ing for laughs, with traditional monologue jokes, clips from old shows Crystal and other visiting his town, Boston, stayed in Leno’s old talk show, with Fallon taking over as “Tonight” moves back to New and a wild assortment of celebrities helping him close the book. apartment. “You’re calling it an apartment. I’m calling it a bomb site,” York from its longtime Los Angeles home on Feb 17. Leno brought his show full circle with , who was his first Crystal joked. Leno told how he was poised to make his network debut “You’re very kind,” Leno told his audience at the start of his last guest in May 1992 and his last guest Thursday. Crystal played ringmas- on Dean Martin’s show in 1974 when news came that President monologue. “I don’t like goodbyes. NBC does. I don’t care for them.” He ter at one point, calling on , , , Richard Nixon had resigned in the Watergate scandal. Leno’s appear- had said goodbye to “The Tonight Show” before. His first departure and others for a musical tribute to Jay with a “Sound of ance didn’t happen. “Making me the last guy screwed by Nixon,” Leno came in 2009, when he was briefly replaced by O’Brien but Music” song parody. “So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye. If said. performed his touching song “The Dance” before reclaimed the show after a messy transition and O’Brien’s lackluster rat- Fallon tanks you’ll be back here next year,” sang Jack Black. “The Big Leno’s likewise touching farewell remarks. “Now that I brought the ings. In ‘09, he was moving to a prime-time show on NBC; this time he’s Bang Theory” star Jim Parson’s contribution: “We’ve watched you room down,” Leno joked, he asked Brooks to lighten it up. Another out the door, and has said he’ll focus on comedy clubs and his beloved when we’re weary. Your great success is called the big chin theory.” Brooks’ song, “Friends in Low Places,” closed out the show. car collection. “I don’t need to get fired three times,” he cracked. “I get Leno, 63, has said he plans to continue playing comedy clubs, the hint.”Looking sharp in a black suit and bright blue tie, Leno was Celeb speak indulging his passion for cars and doing such TV work as comes his greeted by a standing ovation from the VIP audience. The typically self- In a videotaped segment, celebrities offered career advice to Leno. way - other than hosting on late-night. “I’m real excited for Jimmy contained comic betrayed a bit of nervousness, stumbling over a few “Why would I give a (expletive) about what he does? He’s a grown Fallon,” Leno told his audience. “It’s kind of fun to be the old guy and sit lines in his monologue as he looked back comically. man,” said Mark Wahlberg. President Barack Obama, like other politi- back here and see where the next generation takes this great institu- cians a favorite target of Leno’s, struck back in his clip. tion.” — AP Leno gets serious “Jay, you’ve made a whole lot of jokes about me over the years, but “When I started hosting, Justin Bieber wasn’t even born yet,” Leno do not worry, I’m not upset,” Obama said, adding that he was making marveled. “That’s why we called those ‘the good old days.’” The worst Leno the US ambassador to Antarctica. “Hope you have a warm coat, part of leaving NBC’s employ, he joked: “Now I’ll have to sign up for funnyman.” Crystal sang Leno’s praises during the show, saying the 5 memorable moments from Leno’s final show

ay Leno said goodbye - again - to “The Tonight of stars including , , Kim Show” during a taping Thursday in Burbank, Calif. Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Chris Paul and Carol Burnett JHere are five memorable moments from his final in a “Sound of Music” parody. “So long, farewell, auf show: wiedersehen, goodbye,” sang Jack Black. “If Fallon tanks, you’ll be back here next year.” 22 years ago In the middle of his opening monologue, which Final monologue included the usual jabs at pop culture and politics, Leno In the last moments of the show, Leno addressed the stopped to recognize changes over the past 22 years: audience in a touching final monologue, thanking the cigarettes could be smoked anywhere; Justin Bieber was- fans for being loyal and his crew for making him look, n’t born; and guys had to buy porn at newsstands. “You sound and seem smarter than he really was as show host. know the saddest part of all?” said Leno. “OJ (Simpson) “I am the luckiest guy in the world,” said an uncharacter- never found the real killers.” istically weepy Leno. “I got to meet presidents, astro- nauts and movie stars.” What’s next for Jay? In a pre-taped bit, several celebs appeared to offer “Friends in low places” suggestions of what Leno could do after “The Tonight After his teary address, Leno asked final musical guest Show.” Larry the Cable Guy advised him to “sell meth.” Garth Brooks to “liven up the room.” Brooks, who earlier Charlie Sheen suggested he buy NBC and fire everyone. performed a sober “The Dance,” turned in a lively rendi- President Barack Obama offered to make him an ambas- tion of “Friends in Low Places” as Leno watched from the sador to Antarctica. “I hope you’ve got a warm coat, fun- sidelines. Afterward, Leno enthusiastically told the nyman,” Obama deadpanned. crowd: “Watch Jimmy Fallon! Thanks, folks. See you later! I’m coming home, honey!” — AP “So long, farewell” After appearing as Leno’s final guest, Billy Crystal - In this photo, Kim Kardashian performs during the “Farewell Song” on Jay backed by Von Trapp family lookalikes - led a cavalcade Leno’s final episode of “The Tonight Show”.