On Friday night veteran talk-show host and comedian Jay Leno will host his last Tonight Show, ending a 17 year legacy that has seen him constantly win the late-night ratings war.

However fans of the talk-show supremo who has hosted a string of celebrities, personalities and power brokers will not be saying goodbye for good.

Next fall he will move into what used to be perceived as TV’s big time when The Jay Leno Show will premiere on NBC weeknights at 10pm (EDT).

Since May 25, 1992, the 59-year-old Leno has delivered the goods, taking particular care to ensure all of his five million viewers understood every joke, each monologue and every punch line.

The caring, gentle approach has also earned the veteran TV star a seemingly endless array of people willing to sit on the famous Tonight Show sofa. It’s almost as if the famous and not-so-famous enter the studio spotlights calm and peaceful knowing Jay will handle them with care.

NBC boss Ben Silverman said, we hope that Jay expands his audience from 11:30, but we’d be happy even at the same rate.”

As of next week, the Tonight Show will be hosted by Conan O’Brien, while Jay gets ready for his prime time debut.

In just a few short months the familiar big chin and slow talking, caring voice that Americans have gone to bed with for 17 years will be back.