Jay Leno Defends Both-Sides Comedy for 2 Decades as Criticism Grows Over Partisan Jokes
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 16
Jay Leno Defends Both-Sides Comedy for 2 Decades as Criticism Grows Over Partisan Jokes
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 16
Summary
Jay Leno said on the "Unexpired" podcast that he still gets "beat up" for avoiding partisan material, arguing his job is to get laughs from politically mixed crowds rather than make commentary.
Indiana audiences helped frame his point: Leno said roughly a third can be Trump supporters, so touring comics have to avoid alienating people who came for entertainment.
More than 20 years after hosting NBC's "The Tonight Show," Leno said he and Johnny Carson prided themselves on mocking both parties equally, an approach he says now draws criticism instead of broad laughs.
Christian Toto said that divide reflects a wider split in comedy, with touring stand-ups still playing to mixed audiences while late-night hosts such as Jimmy Kimmel have effectively chosen more politically defined viewers.
Leno has repeated the argument in recent years, saying audiences now want to know whether a joke is for or against their side and pointing to podcasts like Joe Rogan's as alternatives to traditional late-night TV.