Jay Leno’s Departure from The Tonight Show
Jay Leno was not formally fired in a single dramatic event. He left The Tonight Show in 2009 after NBC moved Conan O’Brien to the 11:35 p.m. slot. Leno’s contract ended, and the network chose not to renew it, leading to his exit.
The 2010 Scheduling Conflict
After Conan O’Brien took over, ratings dropped. NBC moved Leno back to a primetime sketch show, which hurt O’Brien’s lead-in. Public pressure led NBC to end O’Brien’s tenure and return Leno to The Tonight Show in March 2010.
Final Departure and Legacy
Leno hosted The Tonight Show until February 2014, when he announced his retirement and handed the role to Jimmy Fallon. His final episodes drew large audiences. For more details on the timeline, see NBC’s official coverage here.
