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Americans will see the end of an era this evening when Jay Leno hosts TV's Tonight Show for the last time after 17 years.
The influential late-night chat show has provided some seminal moments in US culture.
They include Arnold Schwarz-enegger announcing he would stand for governor of California and Hugh Grant speaking after he was caught with a prostitute.
Leno, 59, will vacate the host's seat for comic Conan O'Brien in a major shake-up as NBC attempts to poach viewers from David Letterman and rival network CBS. The Tonight Show has been a US institution since 1954, with Leno taking over from Johnny Carson in 1992.
Although Leno has been popular with five million viewers in the 11.30pm slot, the network thinks O'Brien, 46, who is moving up from his Late Night show, will attract a younger audience. Leno said: "Will I miss it? Yes, terribly. It's the most wonderful job ever in showbusiness."
He is switching to a 10pm slot with The Jay Leno Show, going out five days a week. He said there would be an amicable transition to O'Brien. "That's what's great about these American democracy things. We can peacefully hand over talk shows without looting and rioting," he added.
Mel Gibson provided another memorable moment on the show this week, talking of his divorce and confirming his girlfriend is expecting a baby.
