<P> The Tonight Show began broadcasting in 1954 . It has had six official hosts , beginning with Steve Allen ( 1954 -- 57 ) , followed by Jack Paar ( 1957 -- 62 ) , Johnny Carson ( 1962 -- 92 ) , Jay Leno ( 1992 -- 2009 , 2010 -- 14 ) , Conan O'Brien ( 2009 -- 10 ) , and Jimmy Fallon ( 2014 -- present ) . It has had several recurring guest hosts , a practice especially common during the Paar and Carson eras . </P>
<P> The Tonight Show began broadcasting in 1954 . It has had six official hosts , beginning with Steve Allen ( 1954 -- 57 ) , followed by Jack Paar ( 1957 -- 62 ) , Johnny Carson ( 1962 -- 92 ) , Jay Leno ( 1992 -- 2009 , 2010 -- 14 ) , Conan O'Brien ( 2009 -- 10 ) , and Jimmy Fallon ( 2014 -- present ) . It has had several recurring guest hosts , a practice especially common during the Paar and Carson eras . </P>
who replaced johnny carson on the tonight show
who replaced johnny carson on the tonight show
Jay Leno
Jay Leno