FACTBOX: Jay Leno's 17 years with "The Tonight Show"

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comedian Jay Leno ends his 17-year run as host of NBC's "The Tonight Show" on Friday, handing over the program to Conan O'Brien before returning in the fall with a new venture called "The Jay Leno Show" at an earlier prime time slot.

Following are some highlights of Leno's stint as host of "The Tonight Show".

* Leno, 59, has been America's most-watched late night TV host for the past 13 years, drawing about 4.8 million viewers to his five nights-a-week brand of humor, music and celebrity interviews. He canceled the show only twice, in April 2009 when he checked into hospital briefly for an undisclosed illness.

* Leno's observations on the quirks of American life have covered four U.S. presidents (George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama) and events ranging from the impeachment of President Clinton and the O.J. Simpson murder trial to the September 11, 2001 attacks.

* Best-known for his opening monologue, Leno also became famous for comedy segments including Jaywalking, Headlines, Stuff We Found on eBay and The Audience Wants to Know.

* Notable moments include; British actor Hugh Grant (July 1995) makes first public appearance since being arrested with a prostitute, prompting the question "What the hell were you thinking?": action star Arnold Schwarzenegger (August 2003) bypassed the traditional press corps and announced he would run for election as California governor: President Barack Obama makes first appearance (March 2009) on a late night chat show by a sitting U.S. president: The Dancing Itos (March 1995) musical number mocking Judge Lance Ito during the O.J. Simpson trial.

* "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", taped daily in the Los Angeles suburb of "beautiful downtown Burbank", aired on NBC television at 11:35 p.m. Monday through Friday from May 1992 to May 2009 and won an Emmy award in 1995 for best variety, comedy or music series.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Paul Simao)