Jay Leno’s final “Tonight Show” earned its best ratings in more than 15 years, averaging 14.6 million viewers on Thursday.
The farewell telecast delivered the NBC late night show’s largest audience since the night of the “Seinfeld” finale on May 14, 1998 when Jerry Seinfeld was a guest on the show.
“The Tonight Show” also averaged a 3.8 rating with the “money” demo of adults 18-49, its best since Conan O’Brien’s final night hosting the show in 2009 (which drew a 4.4 rating).
Thursday’s audience was the fourth-largest ever in Leno’s 22-year tenure, behind the “Cheers” finale night in 1993 (22.4 million viewers), his hosting debut in 1992 (16.1 million viewers) and the “Seinfeld” finale (15 million viewers).
Leno’s farewell show featured guests Billy Crystal and Garth Brooks, with surprise appearances by Oprah Winfrey, Jack Black, Carol Burnett, Sheryl Crow, Jim Parsons, Kim Kardashian and Chris Paul. Appearing in taped messages were Jimmy Fallon, Bob Costas, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Charlie Sheen and President Barack Obama.
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