ĭuring the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike, Leno was accused of violating WGA guidelines by writing his own monologue for The Tonight Show. Later in 2004, Conan O'Brien signed a contract with NBC to become the show's host in 2009, replacing Leno at that time. In 2004, Leno signed a contract extension with NBC to retain him as host of The Tonight Show until 2009. In 1988, he received a contract extension with NBC itself. Leno continued to perform as a stand-up comedian throughout his Tonight Show tenure. The story of this turbulent transition became the basis of a book and a movie. In 1992, he replaced Carson as host amid controversy with David Letterman, who had been hosting Late Night with David Letterman since 1982 (aired after The Tonight Show), and whom many-including Carson himself-expected to be Carson's successor. Starting in 1986, Leno was a regular substitute host for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. Leno in 1993, in the year after becoming host of The Tonight Show He also appeared on three weeks of the short-lived NBC game show Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour in 19. He also appeared numerous times on Late Night with David Letterman. His only starring film role was the 1989 direct-to-video Collision Course, with Pat Morita. His other film and television appearances from that period include Almost Heaven (1978), "Going Nowhere" (1979) on One Day at a Time, Americathon (1979), Polyester (1981), "The Wild One" (1981) on Alice, and both "Feminine Mistake" (1979) and "Do the Carmine" (1983) on Laverne & Shirley. After an uncredited appearance in the 1977 film Fun with Dick and Jane, he played more prominent roles in 1978 in American Hot Wax and Silver Bears. in Trouble" of Good Times, and the same year in the pilot of Holmes & Yo-Yo.
During the 1970s, he had minor roles in several television series and films, first in the 1976 episode "J.J. Leno made his first appearance on The Tonight Show on March 2, 1977, performing a comedy routine. His older brother, Patrick (– October 6, 2002), was a Vietnam War veteran who became an attorney.
He obtained a bachelor's degree in speech therapy from Emerson College, where he started a comedy club in 1973. Leno grew up in Andover, Massachusetts and graduated from Andover High School.
His father, Angelo (1910–1994), was an insurance salesman born in New York to immigrants from Flumeri, Italy. His homemaker mother, Catherine (née Muir 1911–1993), was born in Greenock, Scotland, and came to the United States at age 11. Leno was born April 28, 1950, in New Rochelle, New York. 2.4 Timeslot conflict and return to The Tonight Show.2.3 Succession by Conan O'Brien The Jay Leno Show.He also writes occasional "Motormouth" articles for The Sunday Times. Leno writes a regular column in Popular Mechanics showcasing his car collection and giving automotive advice. Since 2014, he has hosted Jay Leno's Garage, and the 2021 revival of You Bet Your Life. That year, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. He hosted his last episode of this second tenure on February 6, 2014. When it was canceled in January 2010 amid a timeslot and host controversy, Leno returned to hosting The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on March 1, 2010. Beginning in September 2009, he started a primetime talk show, The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00pm ET, also on NBC. After doing stand-up comedy for years, he became the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno from 1992 to 2009. James Douglas Muir Leno ( / ˈ l ɛ n oʊ/ born April 28, 1950) is an American television host, comedian, and writer.