Jay Leno, the king of late night television retired from TV and was last night awarded for his incredible 22 years at the top of late night television with the Mark Twan Prize for Humor.
Jay Leno was yesternight awarded the Mark Twain Prize for Humor in a colorful award ceremony that the former TV show host said he would remember for life. Leno was awarded the prize at the 17th annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. While accepting the prize, Leno couldn't help but do what he did best, tell jokes.
The night was star studded with the cream of American television show comedy. The stars present included Kevin Eubanks, Seth Nmeyers, Jerry Seinfeld, Chelsea Handler, Wanda Sykes and Garth Brooks. The stars each took turns to thank Jay Leno for all the years of comedy he brought to the homes of Americans.
The stars were led by Jimmy Fallon, Jay Leno's successor on the Tonight Show. The stars then went on one by one, toasting to and roasting the retired star.
Fallon kicked off the night by calling Leno a trail blazing comedian who had taught him the values of hard work. He went ahead to thank Leno for handing him the Tonight show "with the class, dignity and $20,000 worth of unpaid heating bills."
Fandler went on to thank Leno for being a role model to her. "He's an institution," said Handler. "He's been so good to me. He was integral in me having any career."
The stars poured out their admiration and memories of Jay Leno for two hours. Feature clips of Jay Leno were even aired including clips from the Tonight Show and from Saturday Night Live.
On receiving the prize, Leno was ecstatic. He joked that he always liked Mark Twain. "The shock of white hair, the handsome chiseled features. If they replaced him today, he'd be Jimmy Twain."