Editing Jay Leno (section)

===''The Tonight Show''===
[[File:Jay Leno (1993) by Alan Light.jpg|thumb|upright|right|200px|Leno in 1993, in the year after becoming host of ''The Tonight Show'']]
Starting in 1986, Leno was a regular substitute host for [[Johnny Carson]] on ''[[The Tonight Show]]''. In 1992, he replaced Carson as host<ref>{{cite news|title=Carson cuts appearances|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NQMIAAAAIBAJ&pg=5008,192179|agency=Associated Press|work=Rome News-Tribune|location=Rome, Ga.|page=14|date=June 2, 1987|access-date=October 26, 2008|archive-date=April 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424201941/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NQMIAAAAIBAJ&pg=5008,192179|url-status=live}}</ref> amid controversy with [[David Letterman]], who had been hosting ''Late Night with David Letterman'' since 1982 (which aired after ''The Tonight Show''), and whom many—including Carson himself—expected to be Carson's successor. The story of this turbulent transition became the basis of [[The Late Shift (book)|a book]] and [[The Late Shift (film)|a movie]]. Leno continued to perform as a stand-up comedian throughout his ''Tonight Show'' tenure. In 1988, he received a contract extension with NBC itself.<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 26, 1988|title=Program Notes|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/88-OCR/BC-1988-12-26-OCR-Page-0045.pdf|access-date=September 23, 2021|archive-date=September 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927004109/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/88-OCR/BC-1988-12-26-OCR-Page-0045.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The July 1995 episode of ''The Tonight Show'' which featured an interview with [[Hugh Grant]] (who had been arrested for receiving oral sex in a public place from a prostitute) saw Leno rate higher than Letterman for the first time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Viewers still in Letterman's corner |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/07/letterman.show.ratings/index.html |access-date=September 1, 2022 |work=CNN |quote="Is this David Letterman's Hugh Grant moment?" In 1995, Jay Leno pulled ahead of Letterman in ratings thanks to his much-watched "What were you thinking?" interview with a contrite Hugh Grant. |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819210322/https://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/07/letterman.show.ratings/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2004, Leno signed a contract extension with [[NBC]] to retain him as host of ''The Tonight Show'' until 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=NBC signs Jay Leno to contract extension|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-03-30-leno-contract-extended_x.htm|agency=Associated Press|work=USA Today|date=March 31, 2004|access-date=February 19, 2022|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628200918/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-03-30-leno-contract-extended_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Later in 2004, [[Conan O'Brien]] signed a contract with NBC to become the show's host in 2009, replacing Leno at that time.<ref>{{cite news|first=Bill|last=Carter|title=Conan O'Brien to Succeed Jay Leno in 2009, NBC Announces|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/27/business/media/conan-obrien-to-succeed-jay-leno-in-2009-nbc-announces.html|work=The New York Times|date=September 27, 2004|access-date=February 19, 2022|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220011340/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/27/business/media/conan-obrien-to-succeed-jay-leno-in-2009-nbc-announces.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike]], Leno was accused of violating WGA guidelines by writing his own monologue for ''The Tonight Show''. NBC and Leno claimed there were private meetings with the WGA where a secret agreement was reached allowing this; the WGA denied such meetings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2008/01/lenowga-whats-the-real-story-nbc-claims-jay-asked-for-received-wga-permission-to-write-monologue-at-monday-meeting-with-verrone-et-al-4629/|title=LENO/WGA: WHAT'S THE REAL STORY? NBC Claims Jay Asked For & Received WGA Permission To Write Monologue At Secret Monday Meeting With Verrone|publisher=Deadline|date=January 3, 2008|access-date=February 19, 2022|first=Nikki|last=Finke|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220005838/https://deadline.com/2008/01/lenowga-whats-the-real-story-nbc-claims-jay-asked-for-received-wga-permission-to-write-monologue-at-monday-meeting-with-verrone-et-al-4629/|url-status=live}}</ref> Leno answered questions in front of the [[Writers Guild of America, West]] trial committee in February 2009 and June 2009, and when the WGAW published its list of [[strikebreaker]]s on August 11, 2009, Leno was not on it.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/08/guild-clears-jay-leno-of-violating-strike-rules.html | title = WGA: No chin music for Jay Leno | work = Company Town | first = Richard | last = Verrier | publisher = [[Los Angeles Times]] | date = August 11, 2009 | access-date = August 14, 2009 | archive-date = August 13, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090813000305/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/08/guild-clears-jay-leno-of-violating-strike-rules.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://variety.com/2009/scene/markets-festivals/jay-leno-cleared-of-strike-violations-1118007189/ | title = Jay Leno cleared of strike violations; WGA West issues penalties in three cases | first = Cynthia | last = Littleton | date = August 11, 2009 | work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | location = New York City | access-date = February 19, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090814183958/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007189.html?categoryid=2821&cs=1 | archive-date = August 14, 2009}}</ref>

On April 23, 2009, Leno checked himself in to a hospital with an undisclosed illness.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/23/leno.hospitalized/index.html | title = Jay Leno hospitalized; 'Tonight Show' tapings canceled | first = Jack | last = Hannah | work = [[CNN.com]] | date = April 23, 2009 | publisher = [[CNN]] | access-date = August 14, 2009 | archive-date = February 27, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210227134926/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/23/leno.hospitalized/index.html | url-status = live }}</ref> He was released the following day and returned to work on Monday, April 27. The two subsequently canceled ''Tonight Show'' episodes for April 23 and 24 were his first in 17 years as host.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/jay-leno-released-hospital-article-1.361237|title=Jay Leno released from the hospital|work=New York Daily News|access-date=February 19, 2022|first=Nancy|last=Dillon|date=April 24, 2009|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220054647/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/jay-leno-released-hospital-article-1.361237|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cacom-reuters">{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/News/Leno+misses+first+show+years/1530668/story.html |title=Jay Leno misses first show in 17 years |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=April 24, 2009 |work=[[Canada.com]] |publisher=[[Canwest Publishing Inc.]] |location=[[Winnipeg]], Manitoba |access-date=August 14, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The illness was not initially disclosed, but Leno later told [[People (magazine)|''People'' magazine]] that it was for exhaustion.<ref name="cacom-reuters" /><ref>{{cite news | url = https://people.com/celebrity/jay-leno-reveals-mystery-ailment-exhaustion/ | title = Jay Leno Reveals Mystery Ailment: Exhaustion | date = May 1, 2009 | website = People | first = Pamela | last = Warrick | access-date = February 19, 2022 | archive-date = February 28, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220228011123/https://people.com/celebrity/jay-leno-reveals-mystery-ailment-exhaustion/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

====Michael Jackson trial====
During the [[Trial of Michael Jackson|2005 trial of Michael Jackson]] over allegations of [[Child sexual abuse|child molestation]], Leno was one of a few celebrities who appeared as defense witnesses. In his testimony regarding a phone conversation with the accuser, Leno testified that he was not asked for any money and there did not appear to be any coaching — but the calls seemed unusual and scripted.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=May 11, 2008|url=http://www.courttv.com/trials/jackson/052405_ctv.html|title=Comedians Jay Leno and Chris Tucker testify for Michael Jackson|publisher=[[Court TV]]|date=May 24, 2005|author=Sweetingham, Lisa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315195750/http://www.courttv.com/trials/jackson/052405_ctv.html |archive-date= March 15, 2008}}</ref>

[[File:JayLeno.jpg|thumb|left|Leno in 2006]]
As a result, Leno was initially not allowed to tell jokes about Jackson or the case, which had been a fixture of ''The Tonight Show''{{'}}s opening monologue in particular. But he and his show's writers used a legal loophole by having Leno briefly step aside while stand-in comedians took the stage and told jokes about the trial. These stand-ins included [[Roseanne Barr]], [[Drew Carey]], [[Brad Garrett]] and [[Dennis Miller]].<ref>{{cite episode|access-date=May 11, 2008|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0503/08/sbt.01.html|title=Nemcova Speaks Out on Surviving Tsunami; Michael Jackson's Trial Continues; Interview With Kevin Costner|series=[[Showbiz Tonight]]|work=CNN|airdate=March 8, 2005|first=Karyn|last=Bryant|archive-date=March 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329042627/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0503/08/sbt.01.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The gag order was challenged, and the court ruled that Leno could continue telling jokes about the trial as long as he did not discuss his testimony. Leno celebrated by devoting an entire monologue to Michael Jackson jokes.{{when|date=January 2023}}