Jay Leno Heading Back to School Following Tonight Show Run

Comedian will deliver commencement speech at his alma mater, Emerson College

By Peter Gicas Apr 23, 2014 8:47 PMTags
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jay LenoStacie McChesney/NBC

Jay Leno may no longer be hosting the Tonight Show, but he will find himself in front of a captive audience nevertheless when he heads to his alma mater, Emerson College, to deliver the undergraduate commencement address next month.

Leno, who graduated from the school in 1973, will speak to about 900 students during the ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on May 11 at Boston University's Agganis Arena.

The 63-year-old comedian will also receive a Doctor of Humane Letters, along with Scott Simon, host of NPR's Weekend Edition; Don Lemon, anchor of CNN Newsroom; and Catherine D'Amato, president and CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank.

Leno, of course, signed off as host of The Tonight Show in February to make way for Jimmy Fallon.

His last episode brought in 14.6 million, the show's biggest audience since the night Seinfeld ended in May 1998.

Leno's final Tonight Show featured a bevy of special guests, including Carol Burnett, Oprah Winfrey and Jim Parsons.

Billy Crystal, who was Leno's first Tonight Show guest, was also one of his last.