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Jay Leno's final Tonight Show on Thursday night capped off the comedian's 22-year run on the NBC late-night show.

Preliminary ratings showed a huge jump in viewership, with final numbers on Friday showing that 14.6 million people watched Leno bid his famous desk adieu, giving him his best ratings since May 1998 when Jerry Seinfeld was guest at the conclusion of his own hit series.

On hand to help say goodbye were Billy Crystal and Garth Brooks, with surprise appearances by Oprah Winfrey, Jack Black, Kim Kardashian, Carol Burnett, Chris Paul, Jim Parsons and Sheryl Crow.

The group of surprise guests sent Leno off with their own, personal rendition of The Sound of Music's "So Long, Farewell," with Black joking that we'll see Leno back next year, while Kardashian cheered not being the "butt of Leno's jokes."

Winfrey sang: "So long, farewell, you really raised the bar. If you were me, you'd buy them all a car."

Also appearing in pre-taped goodbyes were President Obama, Bill Maher, Miley Cyrus, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg and others.

Leno closed the show by addressing his audience, unsuccessfully trying to hold back tears, thanking viewers and the crew for "the best 22 years of my life." He noted that after the death of both his parents early in the show's run, his staff became his family.

Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show era begins on Feb. 17 as NBC hopes to capitalize on its Olympics audience to relaunch the show.

Watch clips below.