Comedian Jerry Seinfeld will be the first guest on Jay Leno's new primetime TV show in September, NBC said on Friday.

The star and co-creator of the 1990s TV comedy Seinfeld will help kick off The Jay Leno Show when it premieres on NBC on September 14.

Seinfeld, one of America's most popular comedians, will join R&B singers Kanye West, Rihanna and Jay-Z, who will be performing on the opening show.

The U.S. TV industry is closely watching the experiment by struggling NBC to replace expensive scripted drama at 10 pm with Leno's less costly and hopefully ratings-friendly comedy and chat show five nights a week.

Leno, who ended his 17-year run on The Tonight Show in May, has said the new program will feature more comedy and fewer celebrities on couches promoting their latest ventures.