The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Final Episode Photos

Jay Leno says goodbye to the Tonight Show for the second time. That’s a point not lost on the host. He quipped, “I don’t like goodbyes — NBC does — but I don’t care for them… Tonight is our last show for real. I don’t need to be fired three times — I get the hint.”

The last time Leno said goodbye, it was a quiet affair with his successor Conan O’Brien as his final guest. This farewell included salutes from President Obama and many celebities. Obama joked, “You made a lot of jokes about me over the years. I’m not upset.” He then noted that he was appointing Leno his new ambassador to Antarctica. “Hope you’ve got a coat funny man!”

Friend Billy Crystal visited and talked about Leno’s time on Tonight and their long history together as friends. Garth Brooks performed his hit song “The Dance.”

Crystal and celebrities like Jack Black, Carol Burnett, and Oprah Winfrey performed a rendition of The Sound of Music’s “So Long, Farewell” song with The Shut Your Von Trapp Family Singers.

The episodes ends with Leno tearfully thanking the audience. He recounts how he lost his parents and brother in his early days on the show and how the Tonight Show crew became his family. He finishes quoting Johnny Carson and wishing Jimmy Fallon well.

Billy Crystal reminisces about Leno’s 22 year run on Tonight.

Musical guest Garth Brooks performs.

Actress Carol Burnett, singer Sheryl Crow, actor Jack Black, basketball player Chris Paul, host Jay Leno, actor Jim Parsons, Kim Kardashian, and Oprah Winfrey during Jay Leno’s farewell song

Sheryl Crow, Carol Burnett, Oprah Winfrey, Leno, Kim Kardashian, Jack Black, Chris Paul, Crystal, Jim Parsons and composer Marc Shaiman on the final show.

Photos by Stacie McChesney/NBC.

What do you think? Did you like the last episode? Will you watch the new show with Jimmy Fallon?