1. HUGH GRANT IS SORRY
Aired: Jul. 10, 1995
After his highly publicized arrest for being caught with a prostitute, the British actor makes his first public appearance on the show, and Leno famously asks, ''What the hell were you thinking?'' The buzzworthy episode cements his ratings hold over David Letterman.
Image Credit: Margaret Norton/NBCU Photo Bank
Before the host sets up talk-show shop at 10:00 p.m., starting tonight, we look back at 17 years of laughs, stars, surprises, and one very drunk TV cast