On Monday, June 1, Conan O'Brien takes over as host of 'The Tonight Show' show, but not before he sits in the hot seat as Jay Leno's last guest of his 17-year run. With Leno moving to a new 10PM timeslot every weeknight this fall with 'The Jay Leno Show,' he won't be completely out of the talk show game, but his 'Tonight Show' farewell (Fri., 11:30PM ET on NBC) will surely be filled with laughs as well as a few tears.
O'Brien gave us the scoop about what he has planned for Leno's last night, getting a head start in his new timeslot, how he's planning to do it "his way" and his hilarious wake-up call to life in paparazzi-filled L.A. -- By Maggie Furlong
1. How has the transition been from 'Late Night' to taking over Jay's gig at 'The Tonight Show'?
One of the things that's been really nice -- really going back to 1993 when I got started -- Jay and I have always personally gotten along really well. He's been very kind to me about this whole transition. I think one of the nice things that's really helped is Jay's staying with the network and going to 10 o'clock -- he's happy, I'm happy and that's actually been kind of a godsend. When he asked me to be his last guest, obviously I was very honored to do it. If nothing else, it gets me on 'The Tonight Show' 48 hours earlier than I normally would've been. [Laughs] It was nice of him to give me a little bit of a head start.
Top 20 Tonight Show Moments
'The Tonight Show' has been a late-night institution for more than 50 years (yes, that's right -- half a century). Jack Paar, who took over the reins from Steve Allen in '57, put the show on the map, with big-name guests and outspoken antics. Johnny Carson, who stepped in when Paar left, made the show appointment viewing for millions of fans and became one of the most beloved TV hosts of all time.
Now, with Jay Leno's last 'Tonight Show' airing Fri., May 29, and Conan O'Brien taking the desk while Leno makes the unprecedented move to prime time, to a 10 PM slot in the fall, we look back and count down the top 20 moments of 'The Tonight Show.' -- By Liane Bonin
NBCU Photo Bank / NBC
20. Ellen gets couched (1986)
Only a select few comics were ever invited to take a seat on Johnny Carson's couch, and until Ellen DeGeneres got the nod, not one had been female. Good thing Ellen saw it coming. "I'm sitting on this mattress infested with fleas [in 1980], and I thought...'I'm going to get called over to the couch, and I'll be the first woman in history ever to get called over,'" she later told 'Today.'
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Ron Galella, WireImage
19. Johnny does Hamlet (1982)
When Johnny Carson took a crack at the "to be or not to be" soliloquy, it had to be good. Bringing the Bard up to date, Carson interjected fake product advertisements throughout the Shakespearean monologue to create one of the most memorable skits on the show.
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Reed Saxon, AP
18. Obama speaks (2009)
While many a presidential candidate has turned to late-night TV to drum up votes before an election, Obama's appearance was the first time a sitting president appeared on 'The Tonight Show.' Luckily, Leno didn't blow the opportunity, asking the question we'd all been wondering about: "Now, when is the dog coming?"
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17. Stewart's dead dog (1981)
An elderly Jimmy Stewart frequently appeared on 'The Tonight Show' to read poems he'd written. The appearances were sometimes touching, but frequently felt like a visit to the retirement home to humor Grandpa. But when Stewart read an ode to his dog Beau, both Carson and Stewart -- as well as the audience -- wiped away real tears.
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Gene Lester, Getty Images
16. Rivers meets River (1986)
During her stint as a guest host on 'The Tonight Show,' comedian Joan Rivers (wearing a tiara and ball gown for the occasion) chats up a 16-year-old River Phoenix. Watching him wisecrack with Joan and talk about normal kid stuff just reminds us of the charming kid he was in movies like 'Stand By Me,' the mature talent he grew into in 'My Own Private Idaho' -- and how much we miss him.
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15. Jeers and 'Cheers' (1993)
Following the finale of the hit TV show 'Cheers,' the show broadcast live from Boston's Bull & Finch Pub. Unfortunately, the drawback of having a live show at a bar is that your guests can actually drink. Several stars of the show became noticeably sloshed, leaving Leno to try to control the chaos -- and failing miserably.
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Richard Howard, Getty Images
14. Leno hosts Paar (1994)
During a week of filming in New York in 1994, Jay Leno got back to the show's roots by inviting 'The Tonight Show''s first host, Jack Paar, back to the show. Not surprisingly, Paar was once again controversial, expressing how much he didn't like the show's next guest, Madonna.
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Lois Bernstein, AP
13. Johnny climbs Ed (1979)
Though Johnny Carson always joked around with sidekick Ed McMahon, they got a little closer than usual when an animal expert brought a panther to the show. When Carson moved too close to the cage, the big cat took a swipe at the host. Carson's response? Pretending to be terrified, he ran across the stage and jumped into McMahon's arms for a clip that became a classic.
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Ron Galella, WireImage
12. Katie steps in (2003)
To drive ratings during a sweeps period, Katie Couric and Leno swapped jobs for a day. It's the only time Leno has ever allowed another host to sub for him, and he may want to watch his back. While Leno held his own on the 'Today' show, Couric showed off her legs and brought her sunshine-y disposition to the monologue, resulting in a surprisingly solid showing.
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Scott Gries, Getty Images
2. Can you tell us anything about what you have planned for Jay's last night? Isn't it tradition, as his successor, to roast him just a bit?
I'm a little reluctant to have that attitude because it's such a big night. I want to make sure that my attitude is it really is Jay's night -- it's his last 'Tonight Show.' We haven't quite figured out exactly what we're doing yet. So much of it in that situation is about Jay, and I think he's got ideas, so I'll probably follow his lead about what he wants to do.
3. Has Jay given you any advice about taking over the 'Tonight Show' reins? Most people, Jay included, have told me -- it's actually the oldest advice I've ever had: Johnny Carson, years ago when I first met him, told me, "Just be yourself." And if this is gonna work at all, that's the only way it can work. That's basically all anyone who knows anything about these shows could tell you -- you've gotta do it your way. So Jay's been very nice about it -- he hasn't given me specific advice, but he may once I get on the air. He's the kind of person who I'm sure would call me up and say, "I just noticed something you're doing in this part of the show ..." But so far, all he's basically implied is I should just be myself. The reason Jay's show worked so well is because he did it his way. And Johnny Carson did it his way, which was quite different from Jack Paar, who did it his way, which was really different from Steve Alan, who did it his way. The golden rule of the 'Tonight Show' is, the host has to put his stamp on it.
4. And how will your show be different now? Are you bringing over all of your 'Late Night' bits, or working on new things?
It's an opportunity to think of new ideas. You know, it'd be a shame to just dust off the 'Late Night' show and move it to 11:30 ... it doesn't feel right to do that. So, I think we're really hoping to come up with new things as well. I'd like to keep the best of the 'Late Night' show -- a couple of pieces here and there that really work for us, and I see no reason that Triumph the Insult Comic Dog can't file reports for us. And then I think this is really an opportunity to do something new. I think people would be disappointed if I didn't reinvent myself to some degree.
Conan OBrien Photos
FILE - This Nov. 7, 2007 file photo shows Conan O'Brien in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)
AP
CHICAGO, IL- MAY 17: TV Host Conan O'Brien runs across the field during the game between the Houston Astros against the Chicago Cubs at the Wrigley Field on May 17, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. The Astros defeated the Cubs 6-5. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Conan O'Brien
Getty Images
CHICAGO, IL- MAY 17: TV Host Conan O'Brien runs across the field during the game between the Houston Astros against the Chicago Cubs at the Wrigley Field on May 17, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. The Astros defeated the Cubs 6-5. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Conan O'Brien
Getty Images
CHICAGO, IL- MAY 17: TV Host Conan O'Brien runs across the field during the game between the Houston Astros against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 17, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. The Astros defeated the Cubs 6-5. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Conan O'Brien
Getty Images
Jay Leno (R), host of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", interviews fellow NBC talk show host Conan O'Brien during a taping of the show in this March 27, 2008 publicity photograph. Leno announced May 14, 2009 he will close out his 17 year run on "The Tonight Show" with his successor O'Brien and singer James Taylor as his final guests on the show May 29, 2009. REUTERS/Margaret Norton/NBC Universal/Handout (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT) NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS
Reuters
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (L) appears on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" during a taping at the NBC studios in Burbank, in this March 1, 2004 file photograph. Jay Leno (R) will bow out of his 17-year stint on "The Tonight Show" on May 29 in the company of his successor Conan O'Brien and singer James Taylor. REUTERS/Fred Prouser/Files (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Conan O'Brien and wife Liza Powel attending a party at Tobey Maguire's house in Malibu. May 9, 2009. X17online.com exclusive
Ionu/X17online.com
Conan O'Brien and wife Liza Powel attending a party at Tobey Maguire's house in Malibu. May 9, 2009. X17online.com exclusive
Ionu/X17online.com
Conan O'Brien and wife Liza Powel attending a party at Tobey Maguire's house in Malibu. May 9, 2009. X17online.com exclusive
Ionu/X17online.com
Conan O'Brien and wife Liza Powel attending a party at Tobey Maguire's house in Malibu. May 9, 2009. X17online.com exclusive
Ionu/X17online.com
5. Have you adjusted to life in L.A. yet?
It's weird -- I love riding my bike, and twice I've gotten on my bike and gone for a ride and cars like drive along with me and shoot me the whole time. That never happened in New York. I kept thinking, "Really? I'm the best celebrity out right now? [Laughs] Isn't Johnny Depp on a unicycle somewhere?" They followed me once for easily 15-20 miles of a 30-mile ride -- I felt like, "Man, you guys are burning a lot of gas!" I plan to keep riding my bike, I'll probably just put a paper bag on my head and crash into mail boxes. What's crazy about L.A. is you can take these hikes -- they have these amazing trails that you can walk on and suddenly you're on a giant peak, [looking at] the Pacific Ocean. You almost feel like you've taken a vacation somewhere. And they have rattlesnakes out here -- I like to wrestle rattlesnakes. [Laughs] I like to get out in the hottest part of the day and when I see one, I pounce on it and we wrestle.
Reader Comments (315)
Linda Conn at 2:17PM on May 29th 2009
Conan O'Brien will never be a Jay Leno or a Johnny Carson......he isn't even funny 99% of the time!
Earl Beals at 2:19PM on May 29th 2009
I wonder why no one has ever tapped Conan for the part of Red Skelton in a Bio movie? He's a very close look alike and certainly has the same comedic ability. I think he would be great!
DennyBeMe at 6:37PM on May 29th 2009
Well... NBC is looking at self-distructing the TONIGHT show. I've been watching since Steve Allen... but am switching to Letterman or Jimmy Kimmel.
john at 2:22PM on May 29th 2009
Leno is a good show. Conan just plain sucks. I will watch Lenos new show but I will not watch the tonoght show with Conan.
Pete at 2:30PM on May 29th 2009
CONAN to take over tonight show?? What a waste. He is simply NOT FUNNY! This will likely result in the end of an era of successful tonight show history. so glad that Jay Leno is moving to earlier spot. CONAN OBRIEN?? GIVE ME A BREAK!
Pat at 2:28PM on May 29th 2009
My husband and I are very disappointed in NBC's choice of a replacement for Jay Leno. Conan does not have the caliber of talent as Jay or Johnnie had and we will no longer be watching NBC's Tonight Show.
Pete at 2:30PM on May 29th 2009
CONAN OBRIEN --What a waste. NOT FUNNY AT ALL. Just plain stupid stuff starting with that dumb intro where he jumps in the air and makes those stupid gestures with his mouth. I WILL NOT WATCH TONIGHT SHOW ANYMORE--ONLY JAY IN AN EARLIER TIME SPOT--GREAT! Giving Conan the tonight show is an insult to Carson and Leno.
Patrick at 2:32PM on May 29th 2009
Conan is hilarious. I don't know what you stuck up yuppies consider comedy but he is as or if not even funnier than Leno. I love them both though. Bostonians in Blood!
Jacob Robinson at 2:32PM on May 29th 2009
Linda, John, Pete and Pat, that is your opinion against the entire NBC network. Also why would he have gotten the job if he wasn't good at it? Personally NBC can't waste time on useless ideas since the network is on the decline of viewers already, plus don't pout, Jay still has his own show. Conan is fine and so is Jay, they both have different forms of comedy and if you don't like Conans, then go ahead and don't like it, but don't take the time to go to a webpage just to insult him. You are going way out of your way just to insult someone. I really do wish I could go to one news story where a reader hasn't said the story is absurd, or find something in it to condemn someone or something. I mean I have been to stories about a new animated movie and below is an argument about Barack Obama. That is more absurd than any story I have read.
mickey at 2:32PM on May 29th 2009
End of another era. Maybe they should start looking for a replacement for Conan right now. Seems like 99% don't care for him. Hello? NBC? Anybody home???