Jay Leno breaks down in his teary final monologue wherein the famous funny man made it clear that he wasn't happy to leave the "best job in show business."
"Tonight Show" host Jay Leno signed off on his 22-year career behind the desk Thursday with a few jokes and plenty of tears.
In his final monologue before turning the reins over to the younger Jimmy Fallon, Leno, 63, made it clear he’s not happy about giving up the “best job in show business.”
“I don’t like goodbyes. NBC does, I don't,” Leno joshed as he took the stage in beautiful downtown Burbank. “Well, tonight is our last show for real. I don’t need to get fired three times, I get the hint.”
But by the end of his last show, Leno broke down, turning teary-eyed addressing fans.
“I want to thank you guys. You folks have been just incredibly loyal,” the stand-up comedian said, his voice choked with emotion.
“I am the luckiest guy in the world,” he continued. “I got to meet presidents, astronauts, movie stars. It's just been incredible.”
Leno was bid farewell by a star-studded final-show lineup that included Oprah Winfrey, Billy Crystal, Kim Kardashian, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow and Jack Black.
Even comic legend Carol Burnett, 80, stopped by not to just give Leno a shout out, but one of her trademark Tarzan yells.
In a taped message, President Obama quipped he had the perfect job for Leno in his administration.
“Jay, you’ve made a whole lot of jokes about me over the years, but do not worry, I’m not upset,” the president said. “On a totally unrelated note, I’ve decided to make you my new ambassador to Antarctica. Hope you’ve got a warm coat, funny man.”
Leno began the show by taking a last pot shot at Obama in his swan-song monologue.
“The worst thing about losing this job: I’m no longer covered by NBC. I have to sign up for ObamaCare,” he wisecracked.
Seizing on cultural changes he’s witnessed since inheriting the show from Johnny Carson in 1992, Leno said, “When I started hosting, Justin Bieber wasn’t even born yet. That's why we call those the good old days.”
Crystal estimated that Leno had told 160,000 jokes, while going through three band leaders during his tenure.
© 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
