Jay Leno's Final "Tonight Show" Guest To Be Conan O'Brien

LOS ANGELES — In a neat bit of promotion, Jay Leno's last guest on the "Tonight" show will be the man who's taking over for him _ Conan O'Brien.

James Taylor will perform on Leno's May 29 finale, the late-night host told a teleconference Thursday. And surprises are in store, he said.

"I have something really unusual and different planned, something really out of left field that we're going to end on. It's something really personal," Leno said, and has to do with the show and its staff.

"I think it will make people smile," he added.

Taylor was a sentimental choice: Leno said that when he left his native Boston for his comedy career, the pop star's music was playing on the radio.

Leno joked that his last show will look back at his 17 years on "Tonight" because that's "easier than writing new stuff."

O'Brien, who turned NBC's "Late Night" over to Jimmy Fallon in March, becomes "Tonight" host on June 1. Next fall, Leno will begin a daily 10 p.m. EDT show on NBC.

The big names making the cut for Leno's final week of "Tonight" include Mel Gibson, Prince and Billy Crystal _ who was Leno's first guest when he took the show over from Johnny Carson in 1992.

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The handover to O'Brien represents a peaceful transition of power, unlike when Leno and David Letterman jockeyed to succeed Carson. Leno lauded O'Brien as a friend and a host who "always has material," which Leno called the key to success.

He lamented the scarcity of TV comedy.

"When I was a kid, God, there was comedy all over TV and it was fun to watch," he said, including Carol Burnett's variety show and sitcoms.

His said his prime-time show, which is still being developed, will offer viewers an alternative to the many crime dramas airing. NBC's research shows people want more laughs and, as importantly, advertisers are on board, he said.

Known as a workaholic, Leno said he never considered taking a post-"Tonight" break.

"I'm half-Scottish and we die in the mine. We like to work," he said, noting he doesn't go on vacations and, except for two sick days last month, has never missed a "Tonight" taping.

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Comments

[countfloyd]

"Leno lauded O'Brien as a friend and a host who "always has material," which Leno called the key to success." The "always has material" bit has long been Leno's dig at Letterman who wonders off script and tells stories from his personal life. Leno kept the show on an even level night after night which is pretty amazing but it rarely produced anything memorable. Leno is comfort food while Letterman is like hot and spicy exoctic food found around the world, sometimes you will hate it can also be great.

[rabiddog6708]

Jay Leno moving to prime time is a disaster waiting to happen. Only insomnia or being half asleep makes him watchable.

[discourse jockey]

Two words for these two guys: Who. Cares.

[MarkBoston]

I think the best late night show host is Craig Ferguson .. He's brilliant and naturally humorous he's the real talent .

[vandegrasse]

He can think on his feet unlike Leno who has to have everything scripted. Conan's too weird for me. Ferguson rocks! Johnny was the best, though.

[NHBill]

John Stewart is the best, followed by Dave Letterman. Craig might be a better host than Conan but Conan had the better show. There is nothing on Craig that is a funny as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. Plus Conan had a killer band. Jimmy Kimmel needs to fire his relatives and find a few more writers. Jimmy Fallon needs seasoning. Jay can be very funny but he still can't interview anybody. I hope his new show will be less dependent on celebrity interviews.

[situationcritical]

When did Leno take over the Tonight Show?

Did I miss it?

[miquelon]

Adieu Jay

You called my people cowards on a nightly basis for years based on your skewed perception of events in World War II and you willingness to please the Bush administration before and during the Iraq war. While it is a fact our leadership betrayed us and surrendered us to the enemy, over 100 000 men in uniform died trying to slow the German advance. Had the French been the cowards you so often joked about, there would have been no battle of Lille and no evacuation of 340 000 British troops from Dunkirk. But historical facts were never your forte.

One last time Jay, let me remind you your mocking of the events of 1940 was and is as offensive to the French as 9/11 jokes are to Americans. In a print interview, you also went as far as called the French Resistance a "mythical joke", a highly offensive and revisionist comment you have yet to redress.

We will not miss you, save a sincere apology.
Marc from Miquelon.org

[discourse jockey]

Leno has long been an insult to intelligence. But once you read his various ridiculous utterances in the right context, which is the *right* context, you realize he's just another eager peon for evil -- and accordingly overpaid.

[ShanniC]

I used to LOVE watching Conan, but once Andy left, I stopped watching. Now I heard that Andy will be back as his second banana, which means it's time for... IN THE YEAR 2000!

[ThomasMc]

I never liked Leno, I quit watching the show when he took over.

[hillaryj]

What a waste of air time!
Will miss Jay...............

[raymondjiii]

When Conan first started taking over for Letterman I thought he was doomed. Years later I can say his show is awesome. Give him a chance before you start damning him. His humor is not that different from Leno. He will do just fine.

[Lemastre]

I haven't kept up with Jay Leno. As I understand it, his show is being moved from 10:35 p.m. CST to 9. I assume this means little to Leno, since the show is taped at a time in late afternoon that I assume will not change. The significance, I guess, is that the move is the first incursion of talk shows into prime viewing hours. Or is it?

[freethinking moderate]

Conan will be the David Gregory of The Tonight Show.

[wretch]

Jay Leno alienated a huge portion of the youth viewership that grew up in the 80's with Carson.

[albanianmomforobama]

Agree! I'll switch to Dave Letterman!

[DWGRadio]

Uhm no. The David Gregory of late nite is Leno. He never has been funny, he never will be funny.

[discourse jockey]

Conan will be the *Fallon* of The Tonight Show.

[Rangergirl]

I may be the only person that dosen't like Conan......Jay Leno is great, he will be missed....Jimmy Kimmel will be my show if I turn on comedy.....

[TimRivers]

I agree - Conan is OK but I just don't find his humor all that intelligent or, worse yet, funny. I think this will spell the end of The Tonight Show's ratings leadership....

[frantaylor]

If you read the closing credits to older episodes of The Simpsons, you would realize that you have been laughing at Conan O'Brien jokes for years without realizing it.

[ProperGanda]

yea the Monorail episode is one of my favs. They put Ogdenville and North Haverbrook on the map! I always liked Conan, just never had the motivation to watch him. I hope he does well

[meede]

Conan once a month is sufficient. Never like the Simpsons so praising him for it -- who cares.