Jay Leno and the Late Night Show Together Again

The anticipated departure of Jay Leno from The Tonight Show provided quite a buildup for the momentous occasion. Speculation over when Leno would take his final bow as host of the one of the longest running late night talk shows ever wildly fed the rumor mill for years. "The Tonight Show" has had a successful run since 1954. Leno's final decision to leave the show came after 17 years as host of the highly rated show. First at the reigns of this amazing talk show run in broadcast history was the legendary late great Johnny Carson. Ironically, Leno took the helm of The Tonight Show without the full approval or blessings of Johnny Carson. Funnyman Conan O'Brien bravely attempted to fill the shoes of the great and powerful Leno but to no avail as rating plummeted dramatically and critics circled the failing situation like vultures. O'Brien formerly the host of his own talk show called the Conan O'Brien appeared off to a ceremonious start. The hype and transition time into the top and toughest hosting gig around proved short lived as rating and interest in the newly appointed talk show replacement took a dramatic turn for the worst literally overnight. O'Brien first sat in the esteemed seat of his predecessor on June 1, 2009. The horrendous rate slump even shocked the bosses of NCB who anticipated a slight fluctuation in rating but were unprepared for the rise and complete fall of the beloved late night talk show's popularity.

Show bosses scrambled to find a win win solution to the bigger picture and longevity of the show. Moving the show time slot also seemed to be to a good strategic plan as ill fated host O'Brien. However, O'Brien outright rejected the offer to host the show at a difference slot confirming his departure from the doomed take over host position instead. Unfortunately, for O'Brien the decision meant the end of his run as host of the most worldwide renowned talk show on the planet. In statement to the press O'Brien had said, "I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is [The Tonight Show's] destruction." O'Brien was not alone in the disastrous talk show hosting department as the new Leno show called the Jay Leno Show was also met with a luke warm reception. Now 18 years later from the time Leno first took to the stage in 2010 Leno will reprise his best role in life ever as funnyman of late night once again. Initial reports named even funnier funnyman Jerry Seinfeld as the savior of the doomed show's hosting position. Friday, 22 January, 2010 is believed to be O'Brien's very last day on the Tonight Show featuring himself as host in a live broadcast. Leno is schedule to make his return to the late night show desk at 11:35 PM for more off his humor and funny gags for everyone.