Jay Leno says political late-night hosts alienate audiences: 'I don’t think anybody wants to hear a lecture'

Jay Leno believes the late-night television landscape could use more nonpartisan humor.

The former The Tonight Show host had a nonpartisan approach to his humor and has some thoughts about the politicization of late-night television, he said in an interview The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.

"I got hate letters saying, 'You and your Republican friends,' and another saying, ‘I hope you and your Democratic buddies are happy,' over the same joke,” Leno said when the foundation's president and CEO, David Trulio, made note of his "balanced" approach. “That’s how you get a whole audience. Now, you have to be content with half the audience, because you have to give your opinion.”

Take, for example, his friendship with late comedian and actor Rodney Dangerfield.

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"I knew Rodney 40 years, and I have no idea if he was a Democrat or Republican," Leno said. "We never discussed politics; we just discussed jokes. I like to think that people come to a comedy show to get away from the pressures of life. I love political humor, don’t get me wrong, but people wind up cozying too much to one side or the other.”

He said comedy could be used to establish common ground.

"I don’t think anybody wants to hear a lecture," Leno said, adding, "Why shoot for just half an audience? Why not try to get the whole? I like to bring people into the big picture. I don't understand why you would alienate one particular group. Or just don't do it at all. I'm not saying you have to throw your support [on one side]. But just do what’s funny."

Wendy Perl/NBCU Photo Bank

Jay Leno hosting an episode of 'The Tonight Show' in June 1992

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Leno hosted NBC's The Tonight Show from 1992 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2014, the latter period after Conan O'Brien's unceremonious ouster. Jimmy Fallon took over as host in 2014 and has been in the post since.

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CBS announced earlier this month the shock cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, revealing that the network would not replace Colbert, but retire The Late Show after over three decades on air. The network cited financial reasons, but the timing has come under scrutiny given host Colbert's sharp criticism of President Donald Trump and his settlement reached with CBS parent company, Paramount, over a lawsuit involving Kamala Harris' "60 Minutes" segment.

Colbert's fellow late-night hosts, such as Jon Stewart, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and Jimmy Kimmel, all rallied to voice support for him. Those hosts, too, are known to be critical of Trump and his administration on their own shows.

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