Wed, June 03, 2009 - 2:44:11

Jay Leno Says Goonight… For Now

Monday night ushered in a new era in the history of Late Night television, with the debut of Conan O’Brien at the helm of the Tonight Show.  But as we welcome the sure-to-be hilarious antics of the 6’6” red haired wonder, we wanted to take a little time to talk about the gracious and downright NICE ways in which his predecessor, Jay Leno has handled his move from the coveted late night hosting gig to his new home in the 10 o’clock slot.  Not only did Leno exemplify the epitome of class in the entertainment industry, he showed us all a thing or two about the ways we can put the power of nice to work in our professional lives.

Of course, we were fans of Jay Leno long before he wrote the forward to THE POWER OF NICE: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness, but, our own off-screen experiences with him have shown us that NICE really is at his core.  Although we only had a passing connection to him, Jay personally phoned us a few years ago not only to offer up a few powerful stories for THE POWER OF NICE, he agreed to write the forward. Even though we were virtual strangers at the time, he went out of his way to lend us a hand, when there was clearly no incentive for him to do so, and in the process showed us once again that “nice guys” really do finish first.

And his final show inspired a whole new level of appreciation for his affable demeanor.  After 17 successful years as the host of America’s top-rated late night talk show, it would have been easy for Leno to spend his final episode highlighting himself and his own accomplishments.  But, instead, he used the night to say “thanks” to all of the other people who have helped him to make the show such a hit. From his staff and crew, to favorite guests, to the unexpected stars of segments like Jaywalking, Leno let everyone know that the Tonight Show wasn’t just about him.

In a particularly poignant close to his last show, Leno made one more gesture that exemplified his NICE approach.  He explained that in recent weeks, he was frequently asked what is legacy would be.  Reflecting back on it, Leno decided that his legacy wouldn’t be one of consistently great ratings or funny jokes, but something greater.  Leno then went on to describe his wonderful staff once again, most of which has remained unchanged since the start of his time as host.  Then, after running through a long list of staffers who married one another, he revealed a group 68 children of all ages, all born to Tonight Show staffers during the show’s 17 year run.  These children, he said, would be the show’s legacy and he couldn’t be happier knowing that their parents met on the set of the Tonight Show.

So, congratulations to Jay for 17 great years and best of luck on your new show.  We know we’ll be two of the millions of people turning in for your welcome return in September.

 

Posted by Linda and Robin