Jay Leno

Jay Leno's Last Tonight Show Set for Next May

Mandi Illuzzi — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:12:28 -0400

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Conan O'Brien will start June 1, 2009

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Jay Leno's last Tonight Show will be Friday, May 29, 2009, NBC announced Monday.

Late Night host Conan O'Brien will take over the 11:35 p.m. time-slot on Monday, June 1.

Comedian Jimmy Fallon will succeed O'Brien, 45, on Late Night in March or April of 2009 after a stint of web-only editions.

"I hope to make it the best show and a great show for everyone to choose me to fall asleep during," Fallon, 33, said in May.

There has been much speculation that Leno, 58, will jump to another network when his NBC gig ends next summer.

See photos of stars making funny faces.

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Conan O'Brien appears on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on September 5, 2003 in Burbank, California.

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GLAAD Says "Thanks" to Jay Leno for Supporting Same Sex Marriage

Rachel Paula Abrahamson — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:58:12 -0400

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Gay rights organization officially forgives the Tonight Show host for "wink-wink Brokeback innuendos"

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Jay Leno is officially back in the good graces of gay rights organization GLAAD after attending the "Vow to Vote No" commitment ceremony benefiting Matthew Shepard's "Erase Hate" campaign in West Hollywood, CA Wednesday.

In April The Tonight Show host, teased Ryan Phillippe for landing his first role as a gay teen on the soap One Life to Live. He also asked Phillippe to
give the camera his "gayest look."

Leno later apologized for his derogatory remarks in a statement - but it was his appearance Wednesday night that impressed the organization.

"You stood alongside Judy Shepard and T.R. Knight, you spoke about your gay friends and co-workers, and how you're supportive of their relationships and desire to marry," Damon Romine, Director of Media Entertainment at GLAAD wrote in an open letter to Leno posted on GLAAD's web site.

"As you told reporter Greg Hernandez: "'What's so funny to me is how people miss out on [realizing] the economic benefits just in terms of catering and flowers and planning. The services that come with it. . . The businesses that cater to [the LGBT community] do very well. So it just seems like common sense. Gas is four bucks a gallon. For me to worry about what Larry and Bob are doing seems sort of ridiculous.'"

Romine continued, "So, thank you, Jay, for lending your voice and showing your support.

When Ellen marries Portia and George Takei marries Brad, you'll have an opportunity to have them on your couch to show the world that gay couples should have the same legal protections and responsibilities as everyone else. Or you could take a different path and make their ceremonies the subject of a monologue joke. I'm hoping for the former, but you might tell me that there's room for both. Borrowing a line from you, we'll "see what happens."

Romine tells Usmagazine.com, "Straight allies like Jay can be some of the most effective and powerful voices in our struggle for fundamental freedoms."

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T.R. Knight and Jay Leno pose for pictures before the beginning of a symbolic group commitment ceremony for same-sex couples in West Hollywood, California June 4, 2008.

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Mario Anzuoni/Reuters/Landov

Jimmy Fallon To Replace Conan O'Brien on NBC's Late Night

Alissa R — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:43:27 -0400

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The Saturday Night Live alum will take over hosting next summer

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Jimmy Fallon has been named the new host of NBC's Late Night, the network announced Monday.

Fallon will likely debut as host in June 2009, when current host Conan O'Brien is scheduled to replace Jay Leno on The Tonight Show.

"I hope to make it the best show and a great show for everyone to choose me to fall asleep during," Fallon said at a press conference in NYC.

The actor and Saturday Night Live alum was chosen by Lorne Michaels, who executive produces SNL.

When Fallon, 33, inherits Late Night, he'll be four years older than O'Brien was when he took over from David Letterman in 1993.

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Jimmy Fallon attends "Cool Comedy - Hot Cuisine" presented by the New York Comedy Festival at Carolines on Broadway on October 06, 2007 in New York City.

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Hillary Clinton: "Stomach Is in Knots" Over Daughter Chelsea Campaigning

Alissa R — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:34:46 -0400

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PLUS: The senator confirms she's related to Madonna

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A week after Chelsea Clinton drew attention for refusing to answer a question about Monica Lewinsky, Hillary Clinton said her "stomach is in knots" over what her daughter confronts on the campaign trail.

"It's her decision and she's making a real difference for me," Clinton – who picked out her Worst Outfits Ever for Us in February – said on NBC's Tonight Show Thursday (Watch above).

When Jay Leno asked about her daughter saying her mother would make a better president than her father, Clinton responded, "You know, she's such a smart young woman."

Clinton also confirmed reports that she is a cousin of Madonna during an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show (airing Monday).

"It's true," Clinton said as DeGeneres showed a mock photograph of the senator wearing Madonna's famous cone bra.

"I want to know where you got that picture," Clinton said. "We have kept that picture under lock and key during this campaign. Nobody was supposed to see that picture."

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Jay Leno Apologizes Over Gay Remarks

Lindsay Powers — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:45:36 -0400

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Teasing Ryan Phillippe for playing a gay character, he showed "a lack of respect," GLAAD said

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After gay rights organization GLAAD urged Jay Leno to apologize for making derogatory remarks during a recent interview with actor Ryan Phillippe, the talk show host clarified his remarks in a statement.

"In talking about Ryan's first role, I realize that what I said came out wrong," Leno said. "I certainly didn't mean any malice. I agree it was a dumb thing to say, and I apologize."

The Tonight Show host, 57, teased Phillippe, 33, for landing his first role as a gay teen on the soap One Life to Live. He also asked Phillippe to give the camera his "gayest look."

An uncomfortable Phillippe almost walked off the stage. (See footage here.)

"We are proud of Ryan for refusing to participate in Leno's thoughtless attempt at humor," GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano tells Usmagazine.com in a statement.

"Under the guise of comedy, the talk show host is demonstrating a lack of respect for the gay community and insensitivity to both his co-workers and the audience, to whom he owes an apology."

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Jay Leno Slammed for "Gay" Remarks to Ryan Phillippe

Henry Seltzer — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:57:27 -0400

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The late night host asked the actor to give him his "gayest look"

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Critics are saying Jay Leno crossed the line when he interviewed Stop-Loss star Ryan Phillippe Thursday night.

Leno was chatting with Phillippe, 33, about his first role as a gay teen on the soap One Life to Live when he asked, "Can you give me, like – say that camera is your gay lover... Can you give me your 'gayest look?'

"Say that camera is Billy Bob – Billy Bob has just ridden in shirtless from Wyoming," Leno persisted as Phillippe grew more uncomfortable.

"Wow," Phillippe replied. "That is so something I don't want to do." At one point, he jokingly stood up to leave the interview.

Openly gay Jeff Whitty, who penned the Tony-winning Broadway play Avenue Q, happened to be in the audience.

Whitty later blogged, "Would you ask a guest to make their 'blackest face?' Their 'Jewiest face?' Why not?"

Whitty's criticism of Leno comes two years after he wrote an open letter to the late-night host regarding his inappropriate use of gay stereotypes as punch lines.

After the letter was published, the two spoke about it. Now, Whitty says his "first instinct was right."

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Watch Miley Cyrus Drink Ketchup

Lindsay Powers — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:02:42 -0500

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"There’s nothing odd about it — it’s just good!” the Disney star tells Jay Leno

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Miley Cyrus has some interesting cravings.

The Us Power Girl downed a big gulp of ketchup on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno last night.

“There’s nothing odd about — it’s just good!” Cyrus, 15, said.

The Hannah Montana star added: “It’s like half the calories — it’s a liquid technically!” before shaking it up and pouring it in her mouth while her dad Billy Ray and Leno laughed.

“I think you should drink it!” Cyrus — who also displayed her silly side by making a YouTube Video with a dancer pal over the weekend — urged Leno. “It’s a fruit — so it’s healthy!”

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Miley Cyrus backstage during taping of Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew on February 26, 2008 in Culver City, California.

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VIDEO: Leno, Conan, Letterman Return to Air, Joke About Writers’ Strike

Lindsay Powers — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:12:20 -0500

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Sans writers, Leno admitted his wife helped him pen some of his opening lines

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In their big return to TV Wednesday night, Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and David Letterman couldn’t help but take a few swipes at the writers’ strike that kept them off the air for nearly two months.

"As you know, we are in the middle of this writers' strike here in Hollywood. It's already cost the town over a half billion dollars. Five hundred million dollars! Or as Paul McCartney calls that, 'a divorce!'" Leno joked.

He also admitted that his wife had helped him write some of his lines. Even though he was without writers, he kidded that he felt obligated to return to TV because fans rely on his show for information they can’t get anywhere else.

"For example, did you know that just three weeks ago, Idaho Senator Larry Craig married Britney Spears? Did you know that?'" he kidded. "See, no one knew! This is the only place you will find that out."

O’Brien, who had a beard, cracked that the strike has caused people to "read books and occasionally even speak to one another."

Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants, was the only one of the group to reach a settlement with striking writers.

On his show, he also showed off a full beard that he says took eight weeks to grow.

"I know what you’re thinking," he said in his first opening line. "You’re thinking: Geez, Dave looks like a cattle-drive cook!"

Letterman went on: “We haven’t done a show in two months, and seriously, during that period of time, I was very introspective. Here’s what I learned about myself: Show or no show, I really enjoy drinking in the morning.”

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Robin Williams appears on "The Late Show with David Letterman" on the CBS Television Network in New York January 2, 2008.

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Report: Jay Leno to Pay Salaries of 80 Laid Off Employees

Alissa R — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 09:08:41 -0500

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The late night talk show host tries to make nice after giving his staff the pink slip

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Jay Leno is trying to ease the blow after laying off some 80 Tonight Show staffers Friday.

He will pay their entire salaries at least through next week, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Though Leno had assured his staff job security throughout the ongoing writers' strike, he shocked them at a Friday staff meeting when they were told they were being laid off. They were also told there were no guarantees they would get their jobs back once broadcasting resumes.

"Some people were crying. Some people were screaming," one employee said.

Executive producer Debbie Vickers began calling laid-off employees to give them the new salary news Saturday, according to the Reporter, and is expected to continue making calls throughout today.

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Jay Leno at the Fifth Annual Adopt-A-Minefield Gala in Beverly Hills, CA. on November 15, 2005.

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Hot Stuff: Vanessa Hudgens Calls in the Mall Cop Cavalry

Allison Corneau — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:45:04 -0500

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Amid a paparazzi frenzy on Friday, the Disney star is escorted by seven security guards outside an L.A. Macy's

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·The increasingly popular Vanessa Hudgens needed seven mall cops following an L.A. shopping spree on Friday. Wisely, unlike other paparazzi magnets, Hudgens chose not to drive herself.

·If you thought the frenzy for Miley Cyrus concert tickets was bad, get ready for long lines at the cineplex: Hannah Montana's Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour in Disney Digital will hit the big screen in February.

·MTV is casting for new Hills hotties to appear on the show's live season finale. But, if you don't make the cut, make sure to tune into The Hills: Lauren Looks Back, a two-hour look at the reality star who is LC on Dec. 9.

·Tonight Show host Jay Leno reportedly says happy holidays to his laid-off employees with a crisp $100 bill and a pat on the back.

·After a career spent breaking almost every bone in his body (and, most recently, burying the hatchet with Kanye West), daredevil Evel Knievel has passed away at the age of 69.

Jay Leno

Jay Leno's Last Tonight Show Set for Next May

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GLAAD Says "Thanks" to Jay Leno for Supporting Same Sex Marriage

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Jimmy Fallon To Replace Conan O'Brien on NBC's Late Night

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Hillary Clinton: "Stomach Is in Knots" Over Daughter Chelsea Campaigning

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Jay Leno Apologizes Over Gay Remarks

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Jay Leno Slammed for "Gay" Remarks to Ryan Phillippe

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