LENO PICKS UP RIGHT WHERE CARSON LEFT OFF

Jay Leno picked up where Johnny Carson left off - skewering Vice President Dan Quayle - but added his own distinctive touches on his first night as host of "The Tonight Show."

Leno, 42, stepped from behind a purple curtain - not the Technicolor one favored by Carson - smiled his trademark goofy grin and was met by thunderous applause from the studio audience Monday night.Raising his hand for quiet, he quipped, "Let's see how you all feel in 30 years" - a reference to Johnny Carson's retirement Friday after 30 years as host of the late-night talk show.

New band leader Branford Marsalis unveiled a high-octane jazz-and-funk theme song to replace the blasting, big band sound of Doc Severinsen's NBC Orchestra.

In his opening monologue, Leno milked a theme that Carson got lots of mileage from last week - Quayle's criticism of the CBS television show "Murphy Brown" for portraying single motherhood as an acceptable lifestyle.

"This is `The Tonight Show,' " Leno said. "The one TV show that Dan Quayle hates even more than `Murphy Brown.' "

His first guests were comedian Billy Crystal, singer Shanice and CBS economic correspondent Robert Krulwich.

Crystal sang a song called "Dear Mr. Leno," a parody of Bette Midler's ode to Carson on his next-to-last show.

"You made me first guest, I didn't want to do it, my agent really blew it," he sang.

Leno winced as Crystal uttered several mild vulgarities on the show, which was being broadcast live to the East Coast.

The live broadcasts are to continue this week because of NBC's coverage of the National Basketball Association playoffs.