European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 17, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Leno takes on his own show plus heat from Halley Deborah Hastings a television writer no says Jay Leno he a not anxious about talking Over the tonight show from Johnny Carson. But that does no to mean the size of his ego corresponds to the exaggerated jut of his celebrated Chin. A a it a not any sort of ego thing a says Leno who becomes the shows permanent Host on May 25. A a in be had the advantage of guest hosting for the last five years. A this just seems like the next step. Its like living with a girl for four or five years and deciding to get married. Its no big Deal to you but your relatives slap their foreheads and say a thank god its a James Douglas Muir Leno of new Rochelle n.y., is not known for being egocentric. The 42-year-old stand up comedian is the quintessential a Nice Guy a a Man whose Good humor and sense of it rarely offend. A the great thing about Johnny is that he always kept a Standard a Leno says. A a we re not Cable and when i watch other talk shows i see things that i done to really think Are appropriate. If you respect your audience i think they respect the Tenor of the tonight show will be different under Leno but its format will remain largely the same. A a we la obviously have a monologue a Leno says. A a there la be a lot of comedy bits. Well still have Branford Marsalis successor to Doc Severinsen will offer a More contemporary sound than Severin sends big band music and the set at Burbanks studio one will look different. Carsons technicolor cur Branford Marsalis Jay Leno plan new format. Abc Tain will be gone As will his desk but what will replace them is being kept under wraps. What wont be changing is Leno a Brand of humor his Way of taking current events and turning them into Sharp witted commentaries while still drawing his own line Between funny and going too far. A the breast implant thing for example a he says citing an ongoing news Story that he stopped making jokes about. A i got a letter from someone who said a that does no to seem like your kind of so i said a of you done to want someone sitting in bed to be a to Leno offensive and funny do not often coexist. A we done to get Gay groups picketing the tonight show because of remarks that were made a or people Yelling from the audience a Leno says referring to Gay protests against Arsenio Halls program. A so consequently people like you. And if people like you hopefully the show goes not everyone sanctioned Leno a appointment by Abc last year As the fourth Host of the tonight show. David let Turman on whose late night series Leno has appeared numerous times reportedly was miffed at being passed Over. The strongest criticism has come from Hall who proclaimed a a in a Gonna kick Leno Sassy on the april 17 cover of entertainment weekly. The five Page interview inside contained several comments about Leno none of them flattering. A the can to replace Johnny Quot Hall told the Magazine. A no one will Ever reign like he reigned. And i think its an insult to ins legacy to say Jay is replacing him. He s done too much. He a been too Good. Jay Leno can to replace Johnny Carson. It sounds like an about his relationship with Leno Hall said a Jay and i Are not friends. I have no problem saying Good things about my competitors but Jay Leno and i Arentt friends a the interview isolated in an Avalanche of favourable press stunned Leno. A that was a bit Odd a Leno said. Quot in be never said anything bad about Arsenio in the press or anywhere else that would Lead to this. A to say that its an insult to have me Host the tonight show a or to say that he wont have people on that have done the tonight show a that Only hurts the guests. Those comedians Only make about $250 for a spot and then they be got to go somewhere Leno said he had considered Hall a Friend Quot he asked me to come Down when he got his Star on the Hollywood walk of Fame. I brought his Mother Back up to the House. I done to quite understand what this is All about. At least try to make it a joke a 1 can take a la not a affair with stand up comedy began As a teen Ager. By the time he was a Sophomore at Bostons Emerson College he already was driving to Manhattan to perform in comedy clubs. Though he still plans to hone his jokes at local clubs on the weekends his perpetual on the Road lifestyle a a Maze of personal appearances from Las vegas to Little Rock Ark. A will Stop when the tonight show starring Jay Leno premieres. A for the last 20 years in be been going to where the audiences Are a he says. A now just be coming to where i lift Johnny Carson As he appears on the cover of May a life Magazine.30 years of a tonight Here is a list of significant events in the 3 year history of the tonight show starring Johnny Carson As supplied by Abc 1962 a show debuts oct. 1 from new York City with guests Groucho Marx Mel Brooks Joan Crawford Rudy Vallee and Tony Bennett. Length of show was one hour 45 minutes. De Mcmahon was the sideman Skitch Henderson led the orchestra. 1964 a debut of Carsons skit characters cumae the magnificent and aunt flabby. One of the longest sustained laughs in television history when de Ames demonstrating How to throw a Tomahawk hits a cardboard Dummy in the Crotch. 1966 a debut of the mighty Carson Art players. Milton Drugg becomes music conductor. 1967 a show is reduced to 90 minutes. Doc Severinsen becomes music conductor. Debuts of Carson characters Carswell the psychic and the great Carson. 1968 a Tommy Newsom is named assistant music director. Debut of Carson Yogi character maharishi. 1969 a dec. 17 show featuring the live on stage wedding of tiny Tim and miss Vicki is seen by More than 45 million viewers making it the most watched Carson show Ever. 1970 a Fred de Cordova joins the show As producer. He later becomes executive producer. 1971 a debut of Carson character Art Fern and his Tea time movie. 1972 a show moves from new York to Burbank Calif. 1977 a debut of Carson super Patriot character Floyd r. Turbo. 1980 a show is reduced to one hour. 1983 a Joan Rivers is named permanent guest Host. 1986 a Jay Leno is named one of several guest hosts after Joan Rivers quits to Start her own show. 1987 a tonight show orchestra receives a grammy award. Jay Leno is named exclusive guest Host. 1991 a Carson announces that his final Date As Host will lie May 22, 1992. Jay Leno is named to succeed him beginning May 25, 1992. May 17, 199? sunday a Page
