Jay Leno bid an emotional farewell to “The Tonight Show” on Thursday night after hosting the show since 1992, minus his time off for Conan O’Brien to host.
Leno was ousted by NBC executives for a second time after ratings for “The Tonight Show” began to dip. Instead of joking about the situation, he left a very heartfelt goodbye.
“I didn’t know anybody over there,” he said, explaining why he never went to a different network. “These are the only people I’ve ever known.” “I don’t need to get fired three times,” said Leno. “I get the hint.”
He recalled his years on the show as “the greatest 22 years of my life” and considers himself “the luckiest guy in the world.”
“You’re very kind,” Leno told his audience at the start of his last monologue. “I don’t like goodbyes. NBC does. I don’t care for them.”
Billy Crystal, who was Leno’s first guest in May 1992, was his last. He led a musical tribute to Jay by singing a “Sound of Music” parody with the help of Oprah Winfrey, Jack Black, Kim Kardashian, Carol Burnett and others.
“So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye. If Fallon tanks you’ll be back here next year,” sang Jack Black. “The Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons added, “We’ve watched you when we’re weary. Your great success is called the big chin theory.”
In one segment on the show celebrities offered career advice for Leno.
“Why would I give a (expletive) about what he does? He’s a grown man,” said Mark Wahlberg.
“Jay, you’ve made a whole lot of jokes about me over the years, but do not worry, I’m not upset,” President Obama said, joking that he was going to make Leno the United States Ambassador to Antarctica. “Hope you have a warm coat, funnyman.”
In retirement Leno plans to play the comedy club circuit and continuing collecting cars.
Garth Brooks performed his song “The Dance” before Leno made his farewell remarks. “Now that I brought the room down,” Leno joked, he had Garth Brooks perform “Friends In Low Places” to close the show.
“I’m real excited for Jimmy Fallon,” Leno told the audience. “It’s kind of fun to be the old guy and sit back here and see where the next generation takes this great institution.”
Jimmy Fallon now takes over the 60-year-old show, which will now move from Los Angeles to New York City.
Click here to watch Jay Leno’s final episode on “The Tonight Show”.
