Jay Leno thinks politics has "got it all" when it comes to providing fodder for comedy.
"It has everything real life has: a lot of sex, money, attractive people, unattractive people trying to be attractive people," Leno said.
The NBC Tonight Show host also applauded the ability of presidential candidates to not take his jokes personally. "I like the fact that I can do weeks of Mitt Romney jokes, and Mitt Romney then comes here. Because I haven't insulted his religion … I mean I've made fun of him, but I haven't questioned his patriotism or his loyalty or his family."
Having recently passed the 20th anniversary of taking over the Tonight Show, Leno reflected on what he thinks is the secret to success in late-night television: The key is to, "make that one-on-one connection" with the audience.
"You try to connect with people in the most basic way that you can. I like being a stand-up comedian because it’s just you, microphone and audience, and I try to bring that to The Tonight Show."
Watch David's entire PRESS Pass interview with Jay Leno above to hear more from The Tonight Show host on politics and which politicians have been more difficult to work with.
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Sorry Leno but politics are no laughing matter. We need to start giving our politicians, especially the President, some much needed respect. Morons like Leno and Letterman only feed the ignorant masses' little pinheads full of the idea that these people are jokes. They aren't! They aren't perfect but we elected them to do a job. How about we let them do it!
Chucklehead- if you want serious politics, we have plenty of news programs online and tv and cable. Leno's show is a refreshing break. If you're taking comedy as some kind serious comment on politics, you're mistaken. Watch CNN, MSNBC, Fox, NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS and online Washington Post, Huffington Post, New York Times, Boston Times, even in the UK, the Guardian covers US politics just to site a few. My favorite is realclearpolitics.com recommended by PBS for politics.
The late night King Johnny Carson made fun of both sides equally. Why split your audience? Jay Leno follows the same philosophy. Both men are/were funny. David Letterman, however, wears his liberalism on his sleeve, and relentlessly pokes below the belt at the right.
I stopped watching David Letterman when he joked? about Palin's teenage daughter getting "knocked up" by Derek Jeter. That was so not funny. Neither is David Letterman anymore. He is too political to be funny.
The last thing I want when I tune into a comedian is for him to tell me what my politics should be. When is that ever funny?
Leno is a righwing, Republican hack, for goodness sakes. He is the most political late-night show host in late-night television history!
He has been smearing Democrats for years! He also campaigned for Schwarzenegger, USING The Tonight Show as a platform for A.S. to launch his putsch against the distinguished and accomplished Grey Davis, to drive him out of office with his lies and bombast.
Leno used his nationally broadcast show every night to trash Grey Davis before he had Schwarzenegger on (for the zillioneth time) to much ginned-up fanfare, to lie that he just that morning decided that he would run for governor and destroy California.
And you say Letterman is too political? I love his unrelenting takes on Romney and Seamus. At least Letterman is being truthful and Leno can only lie.
Democrats should boycott Len's show and tell him and the world exactly why.
It was Issa who engineered the Gray Davis recall, all based on lies naturally, so between the Leno and Issa, last Sunday was a homage to Republican rightwing corruption and manipulation.
Jay Leno is a comedian? Who knew?!!
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wtf
Leno starts his monologue every night with several slurs and slams at Obama and the Democrats. Who's the idiot that thinks he's non partisan?
Oooooh, on behalf of Leno, gemininimeg, I am so sorry. Apparently, no one told Jay that Obama is the messiah, and all Democrats are his legion of angels. I'll pass the information on to him, and I'm sure he'll be absolutely mortified.
Oh, by the way, I'll also inform him that while Dems can hurl insults and some really serious hateful s**t, they can't take it worth a damn!
Leno's always making fun of somebody. can't wait for the day when
he gets busted for something. thinks he is so perfect. why hasn’t
somebody done it already?
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How bloody stupid do you rightwing hacks and shills think we are?
Leno got HIS start by guest hosting for the great Johnny Carson and he's never done the same for an up and coming comedian, has he?
Leno spent 2002-2003 on his nationally broadcast show, smearing and trashing Governor Gray Davis in his monologue beating and softening him up for Schwarzenegger's ginned up recall of Gray Davis. What a putsch that was and A.S. was a total failure. Check out Davis' distinguished record and achievements and compare them to Leno's and his rightwing pals.
Remember those grand entrances to ginned-up screaming crowds Jay and David?
Yep, Leno in 2002-2003 used to have A.S. on his show to lots of noise and fanfare and wouldn't you know, he jut out of the blue, just decided 'that very day" to oust Davis and run for Governor on where else but Leno's show. And what miserable failure Arnold was.
He even had his affairs kept out of the popular press, lucky boy!
And last but not least, Leno [snicker] saying "unattractive people trying to be attractive people" to TH:IS rightwing shill of a host screams a total lack of self-awareness. Look in the mirror gents ..................
Now, Letterman and Jon, they are funny! Watch Letterman sometime and get a clue.
This year marks the 20th anniversary - of the end of The Tonight Show. Seriously. The original generation - The Tonight Show of Steve Allen, Ernie Kovacs, Jack Paar, and of course Johnny - thanks to DVDs they all live on and continue to be fresh and funny to a new generation (I work at a college and have done some "experiments" i.e. sharing said DVDs with the college kids, they always react with contagious laughter). Decades later, it still comes across that they respected their audience.
True, they were only human and had plenty of "off" nights as well as "on". Still, there was a different philosophy going on : no belaboring or the explaining of jokes, situations, sight gags, and no forced/over rehearsed dialogue with guests. The hosts played UP to their audience.
:)