Leno - Bye! Bye!

[Mia]

Tomorrow is Jay Leno's last show in this time slot. His last guest will be Conan. I'll watch for Leno, but I've never been a fan of Conan's.

[sam king cat]

I think that is really cool. Conan as last guest.

Wonder what Dave has to say ?

*snark*

[Mia]

I imagine Dave is probably glad to be rid of Leno at 11:30.

[Skeeter]

I would think Conan is easier to beat in the ratings than Jay is.

[DKLA]

I agree here too. Jay is great and Conan not so much. Although I understand he's a terrific writer.

[MikeRotch]

I dislike Leno so I'm all for Conan finally taking over. I still kind of prefer Letterman over both though.

[NYSitter]

I am not fond of Conan or Dave. Actually I seldom watch any of the late night shows.

[DKLA]

I don't watch them because I am asleep.

:)

[hi there]

Jay said last night that they have a fun surprise that they're saving for the very end of tonight's show. I'm guessing it's Letterman, since he's been in reruns all week.
I know that's unlikely, given their longtime rancor, but wouldn't it be cool?

[NYSitter]

I just have a feeling that it will be Conan and that Jay is going to turn it over to him or something like that.

[Scoops]

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QUOTING FROM POSTER: NYSitter;1877008 (Post Number)

I just have a feeling that it will be Conan and that Jay is going to turn it over to him or something like that.

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You are right that Conan is going to be on. I heard it this morning. so, if the surprise is out there, then I am wondering if it's something else?

[Mia1]

From the very beginning they had announced that Conan would be his last guest.

[NYSitter]

Oops, I must have missed that. Here I am again a day late and a dollar short, LOL.
And I was so pleased with myself, thinking I had it all figured out.

[Skeeter]

I think I might watch tonight -- I watched Johnny's last show as well. I don't frequent the late night shows, but only because I am usually asleep.

I wonder if it has leaked yet, what the surprise is?

[sam king cat]

Have to watch Leno's farewell.

I loved watching Conan's. He got all misty & choked up.

Said a lot of nice things about Dave.

History in the making.

[sam king cat]

James Taylor is the musical guest.

[Danielle]

I don't like Leno or Conan I do prefer Dave but never watch him either...

[sam king cat]

Basically the viewing late night audience is something similar to:

Hipsters of a certain age preferred Letterman & the younger generation favoured Conan but Leno won over the audience routinely beating out Letterman

[sam king cat]

Did anyone tune in last night ?

With teenie tiny mini freakazoid Prince on ?

Did you see the poster he signed for Jay ?

"Jay, you're the best ! - even Paul Schafer knows"

Can it get any snarkier ?

[Skeeter]

Well, I missed it -- we were out and having too much fun to leave. Here's what I found online (I don't really see any surprises, but do love his jokes!):

Jay Leno says final 'Tonight Show' farewell
It wasn't a weep fest. There were no balloons, confetti or cake. No special serenade from Bette Midler. Jay Leno's final Tonight Show started with a standing ovation from fans, followed by, of course, his monologue. Some highlights:

"Welcome to the exciting season finale of The Tonight Show," said Jay. "I have to thank some people who made the show a success - Michael Jackson, Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton. ... When I started this show, my hair was black and the president was white. ... When we started the show, Jon and Kate were both 8. ... I'm cleaning out my office today and I find O.J's knife. I had it the whole time! ... People say what are you going to do? Relax? I'm going to be in a secluded spot where no one can find me - NBC primetime!"

After some Obama jokes, corny economy jokes, a Spelling Bee spoof and a clip of a woman hitting a guy in what Jay described as "a new segment called White Trash Theater."

Best moments of Jay Walking - when Jay hits the streets to ask real people basic history questions - were amusing and ridiculous, and ate up several minutes of the show. Example: Jay asked a young woman, "Where is Gaelic spoken?" Her answer: "Ummm... San Francisco?"

Conan O'Brien came on about halfway through the show and although Conan had said it would be "Jay's night," Jay kept the conversation focused on Conan. He played a Tonight Show clip from 1993 when Conan had just gotten his own show. Conan chatted about the set for the his new Tonight Show and played a short clip of him in a disguise conducting a focus group to find out what people will think of him in the new job. Jay closed the segment by saying to Conan: "I just want to say I couldn't be happier. You are the only choice, the perfect choice.. .. Good luck next week, my friend."

James Taylor sang Sweet Baby James, which Jay requested citing memorable lyrics: "Ten miles behind me/And ten thousand more to go."

In closing, Jay sat at his desk and and thanked producers, writers, assistants, director and NBC execs. He explained that in the last 17 years it has been a pleasure trying to make us all laugh. He said, "People ask me if I'm sad. No, I'm very happy. When I took the show from Johnny it was No. 1 on late night show on television. We're handing it to Conan and it's No. 1. It means I get my security deposit back." the final shot: A special nod to the 68 kids who have been born to Tonight Show staffers in the past 17 years.

[Nancy49]

I like Jay. But I loved Johnny. JOhnny liked Dave, So I always watch Dave. Before Johnny died he made appearances on Daves show. I did tho, Watch Jay this week. But that will probably be the last time I'll ever watch the tonight show. I can't stand Conan. HE's not funny. Rather weird.

[MacBug]

I've always preferred Dave over Leno. I've just never really liked Jay Leno ever. However, it's just as well they didn't revolve their plans around me, I rarely stayed up to watch Dave either for a long time now. Now Conan I don't care for at all! Like someone else said, Conan is weird.

[Mia]

I don't know if it was in Forbes that I read that Leno's show represented a $100 million profit for NBC yearly.

What I can't believe is that it's 17 years since Johnny walked off that stage. Where has the time gone?

[hi there]

So, the "surprise" was having all 68 kids born to staffers on stage and Jay laying down in front of them. Nice that he made it all about the people behind the scenes, but not really a WOW moment.
I'm with most people here. Just don't "get" Conan. Probably won't catch Jay at 10pm too often either. Will be interesting to see how the ratings pan out later.
I think NBC made a big booboo, but we'll see...

[Nancy49]

I too think NBC made a Bad mistake. Maybe Conan was making waves and threatning to leave. I think by next year It'l be either Jay back in and Conan out period. OR Someone else. And Jay stay's where he is. I'll Watch his 9pm show, If it comes on here, Then Dave. But NEVER Conan. I really can't see Conan working out for NBC.

[sam king cat]

I enjoyed the final show.

There was no 'WOW' factor but I was not really expecting it.

Jay is always likeable & you always know what you are going to get when tuning in.

His jokes never go overboard and he is not controversial. Tells his jokes & moves on.

Classy guy. I liked how it is not all about him & he did a nice handover/off to Conan his lead guest.

The tributes to the staff was a nice touch & I thought maybe he would be more choked up - could have happened when all the kids were brought up as I was focused on them.

I guess that says it all - with not a very high staff turnover rate in all those 17 years !

Not surprised to see his wife Mavis, as she has normally been pretty low profile on the show.

Conan starts on Monday.