Jay Leno Critiques Late-Night Hosts For Political Commentary, Urges Focus On Humor

Jay Leno shared his perspective on the role of politics in late-night comedy, following the recent cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS. Leno, who hosted The Tonight Show for many years, expressed a preference for maintaining balance in his political jokes, rather than alienating half his audience. “Now you have to be content with half the audience because you have [to] give your opinion… Why shoot for just half an audience all the time?” Leno remarked in an interview. He argued that comedians should focus on what’s “funny” rather than lecturing the audience. Leno noted that he and the late Rodney Dangerfield never discussed politics, but instead “just discussed jokes.” While Leno did not directly address Colbert’s show ending, former rival David Letterman and Jon Stewart have both spoken out against CBS’s decision, calling it “pure cowardice.” (Consequence)