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TwitterJay Leno gets a prime-time premiere date
Jay Leno's absence from NBC will be a short one -- about three and a half months, to be exact.
The network announced Tuesday that "The Jay Leno Show" -- the former "Tonight Show" host's nightly prime-time comedy and talk show -- will premiere Monday, Sept. 14. That's a day after the Primetime Emmys and a week before what's likely to be the official start of the 2009-10 TV season.
Leno hosted his final "Tonight Show" on Friday, and new host Conan O'Brien took over Monday. He'll now have 15 weeks to retool his Burbank studio for the new show, which will keep some of the features of his "Tonight" tenure -- a sizable monologue and familiar comedy bits like Headlines -- while incorporating some new elements.
The time in between Leno's "Tonight" sign-off and the debut of the new show is about the same as what O'Brien had in between leaving "Late Night" in February and hosting his first "Tonight Show" Monday. Leno hasn't given too many specifics about the new show, saying in interviews before last week that he was focusing on finishing "The Tonight Show" on a high note.
He was able to do that, as Friday's show recorded the best overnight ratings for a Friday show for all of Leno's "Tonight" tenure. It was the highest-rated "Tonight" broadcast on any night since President Obama appeared in March.
Related:
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Leno's best guests and jokes
Conan O'Brien is ready for 'Tonight'
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Zap2it Twitter Talk 
After watching Conan's Tonight Show last night, I miss Jay. I like Conan, but need that mainstream, homey feel that Leno provides.
Can't wait til Sept. 14
I miss Jay also. His humor could be understood by almost everyone. Conan O'Brien has that style where it sounds like he's performing for a bunch of drunken frat boys.
Wow, JayDub said it all.
I don't miss Leno at all... So glad he's moved on...
I agree with the above comments. I miss Jay also. The drunken frat boy statement says it all. The Tonight show has now gone from cl***y to tacky.
I miss jay only because i liked to watch him and conan back to back. Im not really fond of jimmy yet. But it was conans first show and everybody is already not going to watch anymore? gimme a freakin break lol
I agree with most everyone above. Leno's jokes, good and bad had a topic and a point. Conan is too off the wall and sometimes tries to make things funny that make no sense. The screaming on the tour bus in last night's bit was forced and totally unfunny.
I for one stopped watching The Tonight Show on Jays last day and will re-join him on Sept 14. Like the above peeps said, Conan is too "out there" with his humor. Jay is more mainstream. Aside from that, sorry NBC, I'm also not supporting Conan because of how you screwed Jay. If he wanted to retire -- fine, but you forced him out -- not cool.
I give it 2 months (at most) before NBC cancels Jay and puts real shows back on at 10:00
I give it 2 months (at most) before NBC cancels Jay and puts real shows back on at 10:00