#Hosts July 29

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

Six comedians have been permanent HOSTS of The Tonight Show.

Those 6 comic personalities include Steve Allen, Jack Parr, Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, and Jimmy Fallon. When it comes to late night talk shows The Tonight Show is the one you judge others against.

The late night program debuted on NBC on Sept. 24, 1954, with Steve Allen as the first host. Simply called “Tonight,” 

Except for a brief (and unpopular) switch to a magazine-type news program in 1957, the format of the show has been remarkably consistent. In essence The Tonight Show is very similar to a variety show. The host opens with a nightly monologue and would often do comedy sketches. In addition to that musical guests would perform and be interviewed along with having other celebrity appear.

Those six principal hosts each has a unique story—Steve Allen (1954–57), Jack Paar (1957–62), Johnny Carson (1962–92), Jay Leno (1992–2009, 2010–14), Conan O’Brien (2009–10), and Jimmy Fallon (2014– present).

When Paar left the show in 1962, Johnny Carson took over and stayed on for 30 years . Carson would only host The Tonight Show three of the five nights a week that the show aired. He had a number of regular guests hosts a number who hosted more than 50 plus episodes. The eight names below all hosted 50 or more shows in Johnny Carson’s absence.

 Ed McMahon often called the “Human Laugh Track” was Johnny Carson’s Co-Host for 30 years.

Here is a clip on how many remember The Tonight Show beginning with Ed McMahon introducing Johnny Carson.

Hard to argue with a TV show that has a fabulous HOST history.