Jay Leno and David Letterman may have had their night-time talk shows, but their style could not be more different. Jay Leno took over The Tonight Show when Johnny Carson retired in 1992. He has a cleaner, more demographic appropriate delivery, while Letterman was known more for being edgy and taking risks.
Letterman had been in the running to take over hosting the Tonight Show, and when he was not chosen, he made the jump from NBC to CBS opposite Leno in a move that can be described as bold and rebellious. Letterman's new show debuted in 1993 and was taped at the Ed Sullivan Theater. There were many memorable skits and recurring mainstays on the show, including the Top Ten List, which was later renamed Late Show Top Ten when he came to CBS. Letterman was not only a successful night time talk show host; he is also a television and film producer.
On the other hand, Leno was quirkier and more ironic with his 99-cent shopping spree in which he would display real merchandise that could be purchased in a 99 -cent store. Leno had a rich history and relationship with The Tonight Show, as he first appeared as a substitute host for Johnny Carson in 1986.
Leno made headlines during the 2005 trial for Michael Jackson when he appeared as a witness for the defense. As a result, Leno was not allowed to tell jokes about the trial or talk about his testimony from the show's trial. Jay Leno was the host of the Tonight Show from 1992 to 2014. Letterman had his show on the air from 1993 to 2015, and he made a grand exit.