Jay Leno bid farewell to "The Tonight Show" last night, thanking "all the people who made it possible, Michael Jackson, Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton, we could not have done this show without you."
It was an amusing hour that lacked much of the emotion of so many TV farewells since it was more of a "see ya later" until "The Jay Leno Show" premieres this fall. Leno addressed that move, noting:
"I'm going to a secluded spot where no one can find me, NBC prime time."
"It's a gamble. I'm betting NBC will still be around in three months, that is not a given."
Leno welcomed his replacement, Conan O'Brien, as his final guest and the two had a funny conversation without a hint of resentment on Leno's part.
But it was all leading up to "something very, very special at the end of the show."
Leno welcomed the children of staffers who were born and grew up during the show's 17-year run. (Well, I think that's what happened. My Comcast DVR cut off before the show ended, luckily the clip is already at NBC.com, although, oddly, not at Hulu.com as I write this.)
Leno introduced 68 kids born to "Tonight Show" staffers, saying, "so that's what I would like my legacy to be." It was a sweet ending that was also unexpected.
Posted
May 30 2009, 08:24 AM
by
Rob Owen