{"id":1970621,"date":"2025-08-20T16:19:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T16:19:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=1970621"},"modified":"2025-08-20T16:19:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T16:19:08","slug":"comedian-jay-leno-talks-state-of-late-night-tv-political-jokes-ahead-of-elmira-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/comedian-jay-leno-talks-state-of-late-night-tv-political-jokes-ahead-of-elmira-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Comedian Jay Leno talks state of late night TV, political jokes ahead of Elmira show"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">One of America&#8217;s most recognizable comedians will perform in Elmira on Friday, but if you go to the show, don&#8217;t expect any lectures or <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/tv\/2025\/08\/06\/jay-leno-john-oliver-colbert-late-night-politics\/85539033007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:political arguments;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">political arguments<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Instead, standup comic and former longtime NBC Tonight Show host Jay Leno simply wants to make you laugh.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Leno will make a one-night appearance at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22 at the Clemens Center for Performing Arts in Elmira.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Leno, who grew up in Massachusetts, said he&#8217;s been in New York state&#8217;s Southern Tier before, but it has been a while, and he looks forward to returning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I&#8217;ve been doing this for 50 years. I&#8217;ve been everywhere,&#8221; said Leno, 75, who added that the hills of New York&#8217;s Southern Tier remind him of his New England roots \u2014 where mountains were green with trees and not barren like many California mountains.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Jay Leno performs on stage at Hertz Arena on Feb. 6, 2025 in Estero, Florida. The former host of the Tonight Show on NBC will be performing in Elmira Friday, Aug. 22.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Leno was already an established comedian and actor when he replaced legendary Tonight Show host Johnny Carson in 1992. He hosted the top-rated late night talk show until 2009, earning an Emmy and other awards along the way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He returned to host the show for four more years from 2010 to 2014.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Like Carson, Leno is an equal opportunity political jokester, poking fun at both Republicans and Democrats. Many late night talk show hosts these days <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/tv\/2025\/07\/28\/colbert-jay-leno-political-jokes-late-night\/85403553007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:have become too political;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">have become too political<\/a>, he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;My point is to get laughs. I don&#8217;t try to inflict my views on people,&#8221; Leno said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t try to do politics anymore.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Leno believes another reason late night talk shows are struggling these days \u2014 CBS announced Stephen Colbert&#8217;s long running &#8220;The Late Show&#8221; <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/tv\/2025\/07\/18\/stephen-colbert-late-show-canceled-cbs-trump\/85270050007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:is being canceled;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">is being canceled<\/a>, and others have seen ratings go down \u2014 is a sizable increase in advertisements.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;It has to do with the nature of television. They all have way more commercials than they used to,&#8221; Leno said. &#8220;If I see &#8216;Jake from State Farm&#8217; again, I&#8217;m going to shoot myself in the head.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><span class=\"exclude-from-newsgate\"><strong>Entertainment <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.the-leader.com\/story\/news\/local\/2025\/08\/19\/cruisin-on-bridge-car-show-set-for-aug-23-in-corning\/85711512007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Corning is going 'Cruisin' on Bridge' with new Gaffer District event. What to know;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Corning is going &#8216;Cruisin&#8217; on Bridge&#8217; with new Gaffer District event. What to know<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Leno said he does tailor his act to the crowd, but no matter where he goes, he enjoys the excitement of playing to a live audience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I love being a live performer. I like a live audience and the idea of connecting with actual people,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a lot of fun.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Tickets for &#8220;An Evening With Jay Leno&#8221; are still available. Pricing packages range from $78 to $119 with service charges included.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">To check on the latest ticket availability, go to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/clemenscenter.org\/event\/an-evening-with-jay-leno\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:clemenscenter.org\/event\/an-evening-with-jay-leno;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">clemenscenter.org\/event\/an-evening-with-jay-leno<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Follow Jeff Murray on X (Twitter) <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SGJeffMurray\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:@SGJeffMurray;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">@SGJeffMurray<\/a>. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stargazette.com\/story\/news\/local\/2025\/08\/20\/jay-leno-set-to-perform-standup-comedy-at-clemens-center-in-elmira\/85738007007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Jay Leno set to perform standup comedy at Clemens Center in Elmira;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Jay Leno set to perform standup comedy at Clemens Center in Elmira<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of America&#8217;s most recognizable comedians will perform in Elmira on Friday, but if you go to the show, don&#8217;t expect any lectures or political arguments. Instead, standup comic and former longtime NBC Tonight Show host Jay Leno simply wants to make you laugh. Leno will make a one-night appearance at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1970622,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[350439,350438,47825,350440,350437,21861],"class_list":["post-1970621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-clemens-center-for-performing-arts","tag-elmira","tag-jay-leno","tag-late-night-talk-show","tag-political-arguments","tag-show"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Comedian-Jay-Leno-talks-state-of-late-night-TV-political.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1970621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1970621"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1970621\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1970622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1970621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1970621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1970621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}