Tonight Show hosts

The Tonight Show traces its roots back to a local New York City program hosted by Steve Allen that debuted in 1953. Tonight went national on NBC the following year and has been a late-night fixture ever since.

When Conan O’Brien takes over on June 1, he’ll be only the fifth regular host in more than 50 years of Tonight history.

Here’s the list:

Steve Allen (1954-57)

Jack Paar (1957-62)

Johnny Carson (1962-92)

Jay Leno (1992-2009)

Conan O’Brien (2009-)

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

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