Jay Leno has targeted end -of -evening hosts whose political humor only calls on “half of their audience” by making jokes targeting only one on the ideological spectrum.
The 75 -year -old former Tonight show The host made these comments in a recent interview with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. While the interview was recorded at least two weeks ago – probably before CBS made an announcement that he cancels The Late Show with Stephen Colbert July 17 – The part of the interview containing the end of the evening criticism was published on YouTube last week and went around this weekend due to recent titles.
David Trulio, president and chief executive officer of the Foundation, launched things by noting in Leno that his jokes were also balanced between the Democrats and the Republicans mocking.
“I have letters of hatred saying:” You and your republican friends “and another saying:” I hope you and your democratic friends are happy “- on the same joke,” says Leno. “This is how you get an entire audience. Now you have to settle for half the public, because you have to give your opinion.”
Following Leno: “Rodney Dangerfield and I were friends. I knew Rodney 40 years old and I don’t know if he was a democratic or republican. We have never discussed politics, we just discussed jokes. I like to think that people are mistaken. But people distress too much on one side or the other.”
Leno concluded saying: “I don’t think anyone who wants to hear a conference … Why shoot for only half an audience? Why not try to receive everything? I like to put people in the overview. I don’t understand why you would alienate a particular group – or don’t do it at all. [on one side]. But do just what’s funny.
Leno Hosted The Tonight Show For 17 years in two separate stays, from 1999 and ending in 2014. Meanwhile, the NBC series was often the best rated late evening show.
CBS suddenly announced The late show would end in May 2026 and would qualify this decision as “financial decision”. But he came a few days after Colbert criticized the network for paying “a big bribes” to President Donald Trump in the form of a regulation of $ 16 million on a 60 minutes interview. Newsbusters, a right -wing media watchdog, said The late show Hosted 176 guests on the outdoor left since 2022 and a single republican, and reserved 43 guests on the left since the beginning of 2025.
Other end -of -evening hosts – including the current Tonight show Animator Jimmy Fallon – joined Colbert’s since the decision, the other talents working under the Mother Société Paramount Global having been particularly scathing. “What made you money are shows that say something, shows that take a stand, shows that are not afraid …” said Stewart. “If you believe – as a company or as a networks – that you can go so harmless that you can serve a porridge so without flavor that you will never be on the radar of the King of the Boy … Why would someone look at you?”
