It was solely a matter of time till Jay Leno had one thing to say — though, whether or not he mentioned something truly in response to the mud up at “The Late Present With Stephen Colbert” is rather less clear. In an interview posted final week by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Basis, taped two weeks in the past, Leno took the present slate of late evening hosts to job.
“I received hate letters (when internet hosting ‘The Tonight Present’) saying, ‘You and your Republican associates,’ and one other saying, ‘I hope you and your Democratic buddies are completely satisfied’ — over the identical joke,” Leno associated (by way of THR). “That’s the way you get a complete viewers. Now you must be content material with half the viewers, as a result of you must give your opinion.”
Leno continued to clarify how, in his day, associates didn’t discuss their political positions — even these within the comedic realm. “Rodney Dangerfield and I have been associates. I knew Rodney 40 years and I don’t know if he was a Democrat or Republican. We by no means mentioned politics, we simply mentioned jokes. I prefer to assume that folks come to a comedy present to get away from the pressures of life. I really like political humor — don’t get me incorrect. However individuals wind up cozying an excessive amount of to at least one aspect or the opposite,” he mentioned.
Regardless of when it was filmed, the timing of its launch would appear deliberate, contemplating that Stephen Colbert‘s collection has been the topic of “was it cancelled due to its politics?” rumors because the information broke on July 17 — particularly contemplating the timing of the CBS/Paramount-Skydance merger approval by the Trump Administration’s Justice Division. If Leno nonetheless stands by this opinion two weeks later, it will put him on a lonely late evening island. Just about each different determine within the mainstream — from Jimmy Fallon to Jimmy Kimmel to Jon Stewart to earlier “Late Present” host David Letterman — have expressed help for Colbert and lambasted the collection’ guardian firm.
“I don’t assume it was cash… it was pure cowardice,” Letterman mentioned on his YouTube channel July 25. “What the fuck is Skydance, trustworthy to Christ? Is it a reduction airline? Is that what it’s? I feel someday, if not in the present day, the individuals at CBS, who’ve manipulated and dealt with this are going to be embarrassed as a result of that is that is gutless. I solely want this might occur to me… Preventing with community tv administration was primary within the playbook.”
However Leno maintains a diverting method — even in these uncommon Trumpian occasions — from the type adopted by Colbert. “I don’t assume anyone desires to listen to a lecture … Why shoot for simply half an viewers? Why not attempt to get the entire? I prefer to deliver individuals into the large image. I don’t perceive why you’d alienate one specific group — or simply don’t do it in any respect. I’m not saying you must throw your help (on one aspect). However simply do what’s humorous,” he concluded.
Final 12 months on “The Speak,” Leno mentioned one thing comparable, however appeared to point that his type didn’t work within the current period. “Now you type of should take a aspect,” he mentioned (by way of THR). “It’s slightly bit totally different, however the good factor about this election is, it was truthful. I used to be not a fan (of Trump), however that’s OK. It’s the president of the USA. Let’s all get collectively, thanks very a lot.”