The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC)

THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO returns, following a well-publicized scheduling conflict that had former host Leno reclaiming the famed late-night show's desk from his successor Conan O'Brien. Leno brings back the same time-tested formula, starting with a nightly monologue poking fun at the news of the day, moving on to a goofy skit or two, and then introducing a celebrity guest. The Tonight Show has been on the air for more than five decades in all; O'Brien took over from Leno  in June 2009, and Leno returned in March 2010.

Jay Leno has perhaps perfected the late-night routine, and his non-threatening brand of topical humor has made him one of America's favorite comedy brand-names. He's smooth with a quip and delivers plenty of softball lines to help his celebrity guests smack home-run zingers. 

That's the secret to both his appeal in middle America and why he sometimes fails to win over viewers that might want to describe themselves as more sophisticated: Leno goes for the punchline that will hit the biggest audience, but not necessarily the edgiest jokes. Leno rarely misses a beat, and his interviews flow smoothly, though they don't always draw out the most insightful anecdotes from guests (his famed Hugh Grant "I did a bad thing" moment notwithstanding). But viewers still come back night after night because watching The Tonight Show is a ritual; it's television comfort food that's almost always entertaining -- and pretty good even when it's not that great.