Former Tonight Show host Jay Leno has publicly criticized the increasing political partisanship in late-night comedy, arguing that this shift has alienated a significant portion of the potential audience.
Speaking in an interview with David Trulio, president and CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, Leno reflected on his multi-decade career and his approach to humor targeting politics.
During the interview, Trulio referenced an analysis of Leno’s 22 years on The Tonight Show, noting that his jokes were “roughly equally balanced” between taking aim at Republicans and Democrats.
Leno confirmed this balance and explained his reasoning.
“It was fun to me when I got hate letters [like] ‘Dear Mr. Leno, you and your Republican friends’ and ‘Well, Mr. Leno, I hope you and your Democratic buddies are happy’ — over the same joke,” Leno said.
He added, “And I go, ’Well, that’s good. That’s how you get a whole audience.’”
Striking a balance in political humor allowed him to maintain broad appeal across party lines, according to Leno.
Leno contrasted this approach with the current late-night environment, where he says comedians often “be content with half the audience because you have [to] give your opinion.”
He suggested that this trend limits the reach of contemporary political comedy.
Asked what advice he would offer to today’s comedians, Leno pointed to his longtime friend and fellow comedian Rodney Dangerfield.
“I knew Rodney 40 years,” Leno said.
“I have no idea if he was Democrat or Republican. We never discussed [it], we just discussed jokes.”
Leno emphasized that the goal of comedy is to offer audiences a break from daily pressures.
“And to me, I like to think that people come to a comedy show to kind of get away from the things, you know, the pressures of life, whatever it might be,” he explained.
While Leno admitted to enjoying political humor himself, he warned against comedians aligning too closely with one political side.
“It’s just what happens when people wind up cozying too much to one side or the other,” he said.
“Funny is funny,” Leno continued. “It’s funny when someone who’s not….when you make fun of their side and they laugh at it, you know, that’s kind of what I do.”
He believes humor works best when it can cross partisan lines and bring people together in laughter rather than division.
Leno also pointed out that audiences come to comedy shows not for lectures but for quick and effective humor.
“When I was with Rodney, it was always in the economy of words — get to the joke as quickly as possible,” he recalled.
Trulio noted that the style Leno and Dangerfield used “worked in the marketplace.”
Leno agreed, questioning the logic behind limiting comedy to half the potential audience.
“Well, why shoot for just half an audience all the time? You know, why not try to get the whole [audience]?” he asked.
“I mean, I like to bring people into the big picture,” Leno said.
“I don’t understand why you would alienate one particular group, you know, or just don’t do it at all. I’m not saying you have to throw your support or whatever, but just do what’s funny.”
Leno’s reflections arrive amid news that CBS plans to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May 2026.
CBS cited financial reasons behind the decision, with reports indicating the show has lost up to $50 million annually.
Colbert’s show has drawn criticism for its overtly left-leaning political content.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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