Fortune Magazine reported (last April) that Jay Leno "has generated close to $1 billion in profits for NBC" since he took over for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show in 1992, making him TV’s "MVP-its Most Valuable Performer." Since his first appearance on The Tonight Show in 1977, many would say that Leno was destined for success. What most do not know is that up until that time, Jay Leno worked 300 gigs a year doing stand up.