The Tonight Show

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The Tonight Show is NBC's long running late-night talk and variety show. The hour-long show premiered September 27, 1954 in a 90-minute format hosted by Steve Allen. The show features at least two guests each night, usually including a comedian or musical guest.

First Lady Laura Bush and host Jay Leno

Now in its 51st year (though its roots date back to a local New York program called Broadway Open House in the early 1950s), The Tonight Show is the longest-running entertainment program in American television history. During Johnny Carson's 30-year run, his name was synonymous with the Tonight Show.

Hosts

During the later Steve Allen years, regular audience member Ms. Miller became such an integral part, she was forced to join AFTRA the television/radio performers union.

Music is provided by The Tonight Show Band, led since 1995 by Kevin Eubanks, who replaced Leno's original musical director, Branford Marsalis. In 2004, the long-time announcer Edd Hall was replaced by John Melendez, who started out on The "Howard Stern Show".

For most of Johnny Carson's run on the show, the Tonight Show Band was led by Doc Severinsen and the show's announcer was Ed McMahon. By the end of the Carson years, Severinsen had become the primary substitute announcer when McMahon was absent. When Severinsen was absent or filling in for McMahon, Tommy Newsome would lead the band.

In 1989 Johnny Carson's guest host Joan Rivers jumped ship and abruptly left the Tonight Show for her own show on the new Fox Network, this move infuriated Carson so that he permanently banned Rivers from the Tonight Show. Unfortunately for Joan Rivers her new show immediately flopped and was immediately cancelled and when she tried to call Johnny Carson he refused to speak to her.

The show's full name is currently The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. During the Carson years, it was known as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

On September 27, 2004, the 50th anniversary of the show's premiere, NBC announced that Jay Leno will be succeeded by Conan O'Brien in 2009.

Sharon Stone and Leno

Recurring gags (Jay Leno)

• Headlines (either Monday or Tuesday)
• Jaywalking

Classic gags included

• "Man on the Street interviews" (Allen)
• Stump The Band (Carson), currently used (albeit with comical variations) on the Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O'Brien
• The Amazing Carnac (Carson)
• The Tea Time Movie, with "Art Fern" and the Matinée Lady (Carson)
• The "Dancing Itos" (a parody of Judge Lance Ito during the O. J. Simpson trial) (Leno)

See also

• Late Night with Conan O'Brien
• Late Show with David Letterman

External links

• NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
• The Tonight Show from the Museum of Broadcast Communications website

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