Mel Gibson, Prince among Leno’s final guests

LOS ANGELES - Jay Leno is finishing his 17-year-run on NBC's “Tonight Show” with a little help from his friends.

The late show host will have a number of noteworthy celebs — including musicians Lyle Lovett and Dwight Yoakam making their respective 25th appearances on the show — for his final week of shows, which air from Monday, May 25, to Friday, May 29.

(Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC.)

On the May 25, Mel Gibson will join the show with musical guest Lovett. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will appear with musical guest Yoakam on the May 26. Comedian Wanda Sykes and musical guest Sarah McLachlan will appear the next night, and on May 28, Billy Crystal — Jay’s first-ever “Tonight Show” guest — and musical guest Prince will visit the set.

Guests for the final episode, airing on Friday, May 29, will be announced on May 14.

Conan O’Brien will take over “The Tonight Show” on June 1, while Jay is moving to primetime, kicking off a new comedy show at the 10 p.m. hour in September.

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